SUNDAY: February 23, 2025: BRAD Widdup won his ninth race this month with a Gosford double yesterday – but admitted luck played a part in the latter result.
Hawkesbury’s leading trainer swept to 45 wins for the season when debutante Sneaky Choice ($6.50) and Canny Queen ($3.30 favorite) were successful at the first meeting in nine months on the “new” track.
However, Sneaky Choice, who beat four rivals in the 3YO Maiden Handicap (1000m), could easily have lined up instead at today’s Mudgee Cup meeting.
A daughter of Extreme Choice, who Widdup rated an outstanding stallion, Sneaky Choice wasn’t initially going to Gosford.
That was until he got a phone call just before the acceptance deadline on Thursday morning asking him to accept with Sneaky Choice as there weren’t going to be many starters.
“Sneaky Choice is only a little filly; you could carry her into your living room,” Widdup said today.
“Fortunately I was able to get Bucko (Grant Buckley) for her as she needed an experienced rider.
“Sneaky Choice is the only Extreme Choice (who also sired yesterday’s Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Devil Night at Caulfield) in my stable.
“I wouldn’t mind more. He is an exceptional stallion.”
Because of Sneaky Choice’s size, Widdup hasn’t rushed getting her to the races.
“Grant gave her a beaut ride from the inside barrier, and it was good to see her try so hard in the straight.”
Sneaky Choice, raced by Peter Colley (Greenhaven Park Stud), defeated the much more experienced Miss Judas ($5.50), who was having her 11th start, and $1.55 hotpot Shivermepink.
Widdup completed his Gosford double when Canny Queen held off Buba ($5) to take the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m).
Apprentice Mitch Stapleford’s 3kg claim certainly proved invaluable in a tense finish as it reduced the filly’s handicap to 54.5kg, 0.5kg less than the runner-up.
Canny Queen is raced by John Cordina’s Summertime Thoroughbreds, and is a daughter of his dual Group 1 winner Ace High (2017 Spring Champion Stakes at Royal Randwick, and Victoria Derby at Flemington).
He secured her for only $20,000 at Book 2 of the NZ Bloodstock Karaka yearling sale in 2023.
Widdup has now won three races with Canny Queen from only seven starts.
“I told Mitch to make sure he took full advantage of the filly’s inside barrier, and he did exactly that,” Widdup said.
“But I’m sure she will be an even better proposition when she can be ridden more quietly on a bigger track.”
Widdup’s February winning run began with Art’s Alive at Rosehill Gardens on the first day of the month, and he has also been successful with Calyx Rose (Newcastle), Devil Rider (Muswellbrook), Sunset Park (Kembla Grange and Hawkesbury), Money Team (Hawkesbury) and Nyota (Wyong) prior to the Gosford double.
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