PHONE CALL WIDDUP WILL NEVER FORGET

SUNDAY: July 21, 2024: BRAD Widdup says a phone call he got out of the blue could not have come at a better time.

That call from Mike Gregg, a Sydney businessman he had never met, eventually led to him purchasing a Savabeel youngster for $190,000 at the Inglis Classic yearling sale in February, 2021.

Racing as Jedibeel, the now four-year-old is building a terrific record, winning six of his 14 starts and also being placed in six of them.

The latest win was at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, which Widdup described as the gelding’s best performance to date.

Jedibeel ($3.40) trounced his rivals in the 1100m Handicap, burning clear to defeat Contemporary ($4.80) and Iowna Merc ($12), and also bringing to an end the three-win streak of $2.40 favorite In Flight, who finished fourth.

Recalling the phone call, Hawkesbury’s leading trainer said it came after he had won the 2019 Desirable Stakes at the Melbourne Cup carnival at Flemington with Akari.

 “I didn’t know Mike, but he could not have rung me at a better time,” Widdup said.

“I didn’t have a lot of horses at the time, and the first horse I bought him (The Grundler from New Zealand) won first-up for us at Newcastle in February 2021, around the same time we bought Savabeel.

“I had a budget of $150,000 but really liked him and didn’t want to miss out.

“Mike is now a great supporter of our stable, and it’s so gratifying to see Jedibeel racing so well for him.

“There’s no doubt the decision to geld him has made him an even better racehorse.

“He was on the heavy side, and we had to manage him, which is why he hasn’t been over-raced.

“His five runs as a gelding have brought three wins and two seconds, and I’m sure there is still upside with him.

“I’ll give him a freshen, and we’ll look at races later in the year such as The Warra at The Gong meeting at Kembla Grange, and the Starlight Stakes and Razor Sharp Handicap in Sydney.”

Mike Gregg races Jedibeel in the bumble bee colours of his Sydney University of NSW cricket club, and there was extra pleasure in the result as he now races him with grandson Locky Sheridan.

There was extra pleasure also for Widdup as his stable apprentice Zac Wadick broke through for his Saturday Sydney victory on Mickey’s Medal ($8.50) for trainer Annabel Neasham in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1500m).

“It was a massive result for Zac, and we were all very pleased for him,” he said.

“He had a couple of close placings in town, but never put his tail between his legs.

“Zac kept turning up for work every morning, and deserves every success which comes his way.

“He joined our stable at the end of last year, and I was tremendously impressed with how he conducted himself when I first met him.

“Zac has a good head on young shoulders, and has shown that he’s ready now to ride more regularly in town with his 3kg claim.”