FRIDAY, February 14, 2025: BRAD Widdup has four runners over two venues tomorrow, needing only one of them to win to give him a career milestone 400.
The leading Hawkesbury trainer clinched his third win from his last six runners when Nyota ($3.70 joint favorite) led throughout under stable apprentice Zac Wadick to take the Benchmark 64 Handicap (2100m) at Wyong yesterday.
Widdup has had 42 winners (and 46 placegetters) so far this season, and is looking to the Newcastle provincial meeting to bring up his 400th.
He will debut two-year-old Tagaloa filly Tulou (Jay Ford) in the Pierro Plate (1100m) at Royal Randwick, and she will race in a tongue tie.
Widdup’s Newcastle representatives are You’re The Choice, Devil Rider and Akaka Falls.
You’re The Choice also is on debut in the 2YO Maiden Handicap (900m), and like her Randwick stablemate, also will race in a tongue tie.
Irishman Ronan Whelan rides You’re The Choice and Devil Rider, whilst apprentice Mitch Stapleford partners Akaka Falls in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (900m).
Stapleford’s 3kg claim lessens Akaka Falls’ weight to 60.5kg, and the gelding has a liking for the Newcastle 900m, having won twice and been placed twice.
“I accepted with Devil Rider in both the Provincial Benchmark 64 Handicap (1880m) and Class 1 Handicap (1600m), and he will run in the latter,” Widdup said last night.
‘He has trained on well since breaking through in a 1500m Muswellbrook Maiden earlier in the month.
“If I’m going to make the 400 on Saturday, Newcastle looks my best chance to do so.”
Widdup scored with the impeccably bred Sunset Park at Kembla Grange last Saturday, and also with Money Team at Hawkesbury on Wednesday.
“The stable is going well, and we’ve got quite a few runners trialling in the coming weeks,” he said.
“They comprise younger horses and some of our established ones such as Jedibeel and Confess Our Dreams.”
This is Nyota’s first preparation with Widdup, after winning three races – all at Hawkesbury – for Randwick trainer John Sargent.
The six-year-old mare races in the colours of Widdup’s dual Group 3 winner Phearson, who is in work. Part-owner Peter James manages both horses.
Nyota came back in distance after finishing second over 2400m at Kembla Grange on January 29, and Wadick took any bad luck out of the equation by taking her to the front.
She was never seriously threatened and defeated last start winner Zizette ($9.50) and Laspirit Deeler ($10).
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