GUN HAS ANOTHER "SHOT" IN HIS LOCKER

WEDNESDAY: December 11, 2024: HE has another “shot” in the locker when he is ridden differently! Hawkesbury’s leading trainer Brad Widdup believes that will be the case with lightly raced Swift Gun, who broke through at Wyong today.

A $7 chance, Swift Gun ($7) won the Maiden Handicap (1350m) at only his fifth start.

With Alysha Collett aboard, the three-year-old drew the outside barrier in a field of seven and, after sitting outside the leader, $41 outsider Kickoff, took the lead on straightening and tenaciously fought off late challenges from fancied pair Delrico ($2.80) and $1.85 favorite West Head.

“We had to ride Swift Gun upside down today to suit the track and the race,” Widdup said en route home.

“He did a good job in the circumstances, and I’m sure he will be even better when he can be ridden more patiently as we stretch him out to 1400m.”

Swift Gun raced only once as a two-year-old when ninth in Don’t Forget Jack’s Star Kingdom Stakes (1000m) at Muswellbrook on May 3.

“He was quite keen in his work in that preparation, and we gave him a good break,” Widdup explained.

“He is getting better with more experience, and has kept improving with each run this time in work.

“His last run when runner-up at home in a Super Maiden Plate (1300m) late last month was an indication that he wasn’t far off a win.”

Swift Gun, a son of Exceed and Excel and the All Too Hard mare and four-times winner (three in town) All Too Soon was bred by his owner, John Cordina’s Summertime Thoroughbreds.

He was offered at last year’s Magic Millions yearling sale at the Gold Coast, but didn’t quite reach his reserve price.

Swift Gun is the first foal of All Too Soon, whose dam Gallant Tess won five races (all in Sydney, including the Group 2 Chelmsford Stakes, 1600m at Royal Randwick in 2008), and was placed on four occasions at Group 1 level.

Widdup, who clinched his 29th winner of the season and career 386th, has two runners at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Tyler Schiller will ride both Jedibeel (Listed Razor Sharp Handicap, 1200m) and Left Field (Benchmark 78 Handicap, 1200m).

Jedibeel is much better drawn than when he had a tough run last time and was unplaced in the Listed Starlight Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on November 30, whilst Left Field was an excellent second (also from a wide alley) when runner-up against her own sex in a 1200m Benchmark 78 at the Kembla Grange metropolitan meeting on November 23.