3 minute read

Trainer Brad Widdup will take the opportunity to examine the first few races at Randwick on Saturday before trying to plot the right path for promising galloper Jedibeel.

The barrier gods weren't kind again to Brad Widdup's talented four-year-old in the Thank You ATC Members Handicap (1100m) – after drawing 24 at Rosehill last week he came up with the outside of 11, not to mention drawing nine of 14 in a later race at Randwick.

While he'd love to have that cushy draw to ensure an easy first part of the race, Widdup is aware that on a heavy track Randwick can play to different patterns so will keep an open mind before giving Zac Wadick his advice on what his best chance to win may be.

"I won't be telling Zac to hit the button and lead because there's enough speed in the race,'' Widdup said.

"It'll give us an idea if the fence is off or they are not making ground out wide, we'll know those things by his race. That's where it helps a little bit."

Jedibeel, $3.80 with TAB on Thursday, hasn't raced since he sat three wide throughout but still rounded up Mogo Magic to win over 1100m at Canterbury on June 10.

He was an acceptor the abandoned Randwick meeting 12 days later so having also scratched from last week the gelding has to get back to the races.

Fortunately, the Canterbury win was his third run from a break and it's not been a big deal as far as his fitness is concerned but with the heavy ground Widdup elected for the shorter race.

"The 1200m was obviously tougher then you're playing on a heavy track as well,'' he said.

"I weighed it up and from barrier 11 in an 1100m race it's probably going to play like a 1200m race.

"He's in really good order, I won't be using that as an excuse if he gets beaten. He's missed racing but he hasn't missed any work."

Mogo Magic is again among Jedibeel's opposition on Saturday, after Wadick's claim there's a 1kg swing against Widdup's charge but a win could give the Hawkesbury trainer reason to consider the Ramornie Handicap later this month at Grafton.

"You'd be foolish not to nominate and have a look at the race and the trip away probably wouldn't hurt him,'' he said.

"He's always shown a hell of a lot of ability, a couple of times there when he was still a colt and ridden up on the speed it probably didn't suit him but other than that his form is pretty faultless."

Widdup said he also needs to roll the dice with Sneaky Paige from an outside barrier in the Catanach's Jewellers Handicap (1200m).

The stakes placed mare is in her third preparation with the trainer and she continues to be a source of frustration for not bringing what she's showing at home to race day as often as he'd like.

She resumed with a below par performance in the Gai Waterhouse Classic at Ipswich but the last time she saw a heavy track at Randwick she was a winner, back in the 2022 spring.

"I've got to get racing under her belt, she normally takes four or five runs to come right,'' Widdup said.

"She's a very good worker and has great recovery after she gallops, she's probably one of the better workers I have in the stable but she fools me a lot.

"She baffles me because she's a beautiful big filly and has performed well but it's hard to get it out of her on race day.

"I've got to keep her ticking over and get the right race at the end of the month and hopefully have her right on that day."