Cover image courtesy of Sportpix
Widdup on the hunt for the Coolmore with Savvy Hallie
Hawkesbury-based Brad Widdup is chasing G1 Coolmore Classic glory with his talented 3-year-old filly Savvy Hallie (Hellbent) on Saturday as she lines up in the G1 Coolmore Classic.
Widdup has already tasted Group 1 success with Icebath (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) in the G1 Empire Rose Stakes, but a top-level victory in his home state still eludes him.
Savvy Hallie went agonisingly close at her most recent start, when the star filly Tempted (Street Boss {USA}) ran her down in the final strides of the G1 Surround Stakes.
Savvy Hallie | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Widdup is looking forward to Saturday and is hoping he can get abig win for himself and for a loyal bunch of owners.
“BK Racing have been big supporters and I’d love to be able to get a Group 1 win for them,’’ Widdup told racingnsw.
“Having a horse like this is what it’s all about, being in these races is what we want to do.
“Having a horse (Savvy Hallie) like this is what it’s all about, being in these races is what we want to do.’’ - Brad Widdup
“It’s bloody frustrating when you get so close and get beaten but that’s the game, you get beaten more than you win. When you’re so close it’s pretty tough.”
Widdup said it took a high-class rival to run her down last start.
“It took a very good horse (Tempted) to get past us,’’ he said.
“She did all the donkey work, it was a really good effort and she’s come through it great. She’s always been a good on speed horse. They’ll know she’s there, it’s what work she has to do that’s the telling factor.”
“She’s (Savvy Hallie) always been a good on speed horse. They’ll know she’s there, it’s what work she has to do that’s the telling factor.” - Brad Widdup
Top jockey Nash Rawiller retains the ride, something Widdup sees as a significant positive.
“I haven’t had the luxury of using Nash much in my career but it’s great to have someone of his stature on the horse, and he’s stuck with her. It’s good to have continuity there, Nash is one of the best we’ve had."
Looking ahead, Widdup hopes Savvy Hallie can prove effective at 1500 metres, which would open the door to a potential spring target.
Brad Widdup | Image courtesy of Widdup Racing
"It'll be nice if she can run 1500m because there's a good race over 1500m at Randwick as a 4-year-old we'd like to target like everyone else,"
This year’s Coolmore Classic shapes as a strong and even contest. Lazzura (Snitzel) looks the class runner, Verona Rose (Castelvecchio) was an impressive last-start winner, while Firestorm (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) could be the blow-out chance carrying just 53.5kg.
Pembrey looks to bounce back in the Magic Night
Things did not go to plan for the talented Queensland filly Pembrey (Prague) at her last start in the G2 Sweet Embrace Stakes, where champion jockey James McDonald endured little luck in running.
The promising filly never truly had the opportunity to show her ability, but trainer Tony Gollan remains positive and views the experience as beneficial.
“I take the last start defeat with a glass half full approach,’’ Gollan told racingnsw.
“I take the last start defeat with a glass half full approach.’’ - Tony Gollan
“I think it was all part of the learning experience for horse and rider. She learned how to race in a different format which is never a bad thing, and obviously James has had a seat on her.
“I think the whole partnership will be all around better the second time.”
Pembrey | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
Gollan expects Pembrey to race prominently in Saturday’s Magic Night Stakes.
“I’d imagine she either leads, sits outside lead or one-one,’’ Gollan said.
“I’m really happy with everything we’ve seen from her in the last two weeks, I’m pleased with the way she’s trained on.
“She’s just settled in nicely. When you travel young horses away for the first time there’s so much to take in. She’s had time to settle into Randwick and get into a new routine and take it all in, she’s going a really good job of it.
“I’m sure she’s going to present in really good order. She’s a naturally fit, racey 2-year-old type.”
“I’m sure she’s (Pembrey) going to present in really good order. She’s a naturally fit, racey 2-year-old type.” - Tony Gollan
A win could earn her a place in the Golden Slipper, although Gollan remains measured in his expectations.
“I don’t want to get the cart in front of the horse, I’m more the horse in front of the cart kind of guy,’’ he said.
“The mindset has always been to try and get her into the Slipper. As far as 2-year-old quality goes she’s got enough of it to be there.”
Tony Gollan | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The race looks another even juvenile contest, with Ciaron’s Star (I Am Invincible) a good chance, the consistent Hardanger (Pinatubo {Ire}) has to be respected, and Zoo Dazzler (Zoustar) all capable of featuring.
Flying For Fun back bigger and better
Flying For Fun (Spieth), trained by Bryce Heys, made significant progress late last campaign and now returns in the $250,000 G3 Maurice McCarten Stakes.
The daughter of former stable star Spieth stepped up from rating races to perform strongly in Melbourne, finishing third in the G3 Begonia Belle Stakes behind New York Lustre (Manhattan Rain) before competing admirably in the G1 VRC Sprint behind Giga Kick (Scissor Kick).
She later returned to Sydney and captured the Listed Starlight Stakes at Rosehill.
Flying For Fun | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Her preparation this time has included two encouraging trials, including a sharp 822m win at Warwick Farm with Zac Lloyd aboard.
"She is improving with a bit of racing and she has a little bit more to go yet but she will need to because she is getting up to that grade where she will need to," Heys told racenet.com.
"Physically she has made an improvement each prep and hopefully that's the little bit of improvement you need to win or be competitive. Both her trials have been great.
"Especially when you get to this sort of grade, those horses that have a run or two have a bit of a jump on you so you don't want to get too carried away but I am really happy with her."
Bryce Heys | Image courtesy of Australian Turf Club
Among the main rivals appear to be the well-bred entire Enriched (I Am Invincible), the consistent Kerguelen (Lonhro), and La Fracas (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), who resumes for the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable.
Different Gravy on the Derby Path
Exciting stayer Different Gravy (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) resumes on Saturday at Caulfield in the $500,000 VOBIS Platinum Guineas, with trainer Henry Dwyer mapping out a long-term path towards the G1 Queensland Derby.
The promising galloper ended his previous campaign in excellent form, winning both the Listed TAB Trophy and the $400,000 Whispering Angel Melbourne Classic at the same track.
While he faces a tricky barrier draw of 16, Dwyer remains comfortable sticking with the original plan.
Different Gravy | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
"He needs to start somewhere and that's been his long-term starting point, so I don't want to change a preparation just because of a bad barrier," Dwyer told racingandsports.
Different Gravy is set to follow a clear progression towards the 2400m Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm in late May.
Following Saturday’s return, the gelding is expected to head to Sydney for the G3 Frank Packer Plate over 2000 metres at Randwick before travelling to Brisbane for the G3 Rough Habit Plate also over 2000 metres at Doomben.
"We didn't accept in the Australian Derby, we took him out on Tuesday, just because it was all coming around a bit soon," Dwyer said.
Henry Dwyer | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
"The mile now, then 2000 metres in a month's time and a lead-up run into the Derby sounds about right."
Different Gravy showed sharp improvement last campaign, even exceeding expectations within the stable.
"We thought he would improve over ground, but we didn't know how much he would improve.
"It was a fair bit, and I think he's going to improve again this time. We got him out to 2000 metres last prep, and I think he will eat up the 2400 metres as well this time around.
"Hopefully a winter up there and then we can think about the spring down here and see how he measures up."
"Hopefully a winter up there and then we can think about the spring down here and see how he (Different Gravy) measures up." - Henry Dwyer
Saturday’s race shapes as highly competitive. Salty Pearl (Tagaloa) appears ready to peak, the unbeaten Veyepee (Russian Camelot {Ire}) looks an exciting prospect, while Itazura (Tagaloa) could be a knockout chance for the in-form Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman stable.
Can Jigsaw keep on winning?
The durable and evergreen 7-year-old gelding Jigsaw (Manhattan Rain) is enjoying the best form of his career, with the Cindy Alderson-trained sprinter winning his past four races since October.
Those victories include the G2 McEwen Stakes, the $1 million Meteorite, and the G1 Railway Stakes in New Zealand.
Alderson said the return trip from New Zealand proved longer than expected due to flight disruptions, but the stable star handled it well.
Jigsaw | Image courtesy of Race Images
“He did enjoy his time (in NZ). He got off the plane and he loved the lead-up to the Railway,” Alderson said.
“He was very, very bright, very happy and himself. He looked amazing and trained very well at Byerley Park.
“Flights got pushed back and delayed, cancelled and a couple other things, so he had a longer trip home than anticipated. We just had to wait until he got back and reassessed it, but he’s back now and he’s happy.”
The gelding now faces the challenge of racing with a high rating and carrying significant weight.
Cindy Alderson | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“It becomes a bit of a problem when your rating gets as high as he’s got it now, you’ve sort of got to go to harder races.
“It becomes a bit of a problem when your rating gets as high as he’s (Jigsaw) got it now, you’ve sort of got to go to harder races.” - Cindy Alderson
“But luckily with the conditions of this race, at least the handicap is capped at 61kg. Whilst it’s more weight than some of the horses in the race with him, it’s a race you’d think he could be competitive in.
“He’s definitely a little quieter (than earlier this campaign), but the reality is, he’s a 7-year-old gelding, he’s been around for a while, and he’s having his sixth run in.”
“He’s definitely a little quieter, but the reality is, he’s a 7-year-old gelding, he’s been around for a while, and he’s having his sixth run in.” - Cindy Alderson
Despite carrying top weight, Jigsaw still appears the class runner. However, the improving Ndola (Justify {USA}) receives 6.5kg off him and looks a threat, while She’s Bulletproof (Shooting To Win) drops back from the G1 Oakleigh Plate and will be charging late.
