Gosford preview: Trainer Brad Widdup hopes for another Gosford triumph with Sneaky Choice
Widdup sent Sneaky Choice to Gosford for a 1000m race on debut and the daughter of Extreme Choice tracked the leader before running down Miss Judas to score by three-quarters of a length.
Spelled after a sixth at Goulburn, Sneaky Choice returns to the Central Coast for the TEG Tradies Day 29 August 2025 Class 1 Handicap over the 1000m.
Jockey Grant Buckley, who was aboard for her debut win, will again partner the three-year-old.
'She is only very little but she did a really good job to win on debut,' said Widdup.
'Where going back to where she won and hopefully she can do it again.
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'She's only had the one trial this time in so she is obviously open to improvement but I thought this was a good starting point for her.'
Widdup is hoping well-bred filly You're The Choice can claim a late season two-year-old win and a BOBS bonus when she resumes in the Central Coast Locksmiths Provincial Maiden Plate (1000m) where she has drawn barrier 6 with apprentice Mitch Stapleford aboard.
The two-year-old made her debut at Newcastle over 900m back on February 15 where she finished a head second behind Frostfire.
She then took a big jump in grade when Widdup sent her out in the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes at Randwick.
After racing keenly she finished down the order behind Within The Law.
'She was quite good on debut so we gave her a run in the Sweet Embrace,' Widdup said.
'She is a nice filly and has come back in good order this preparation. 'I expect her to run well first-up from a good draw.'
A two-year-old win will increase her future broodmare value.
The filly is a daughter of Golden Slipper Farnan from a half-sister to Group 1 Blue Diamond winner and top sire, Extreme Choice.
Widdup also has Gladstone Grande in the same race but will likely save him for Maiden Plate at Hawkesbury the following day.
The gelding has only had one run, in the Kirkham Plate at Randwick on October 26 where he was last of the six runners behind Comedy.
Domeland filly Sapling breaks her maiden with an impressive victory for Head Trainer Sara Ryan and jockey Robbie Downey at Wyong! #TeamDomeland pic.twitter.com/7IO7xMwf40
â€' Domeland Racing (@DomelandRacing) July 5, 2025
'I will likely split them up,' he said
'Even though he has drawn worse at Hawkesbury he will probably go there.
'I had a throw at the stumps in the Kirkham. I may not have been the right thing but it gave him some experience.
'He is still mentally immature but I have been happy enough with him in his trial.
'If the brings that to the races, he should be competitive.'
Widdup also has two options with the promising Tequisoda this weekend – Gosford and Hawkesbury.
The two-year-old is entered for the Consolidated Panels & Veneers 2&3YO Maiden Plate (1600m) at Gosford and a Maiden Plate at Hawkesbury over 1500m.
'He will likely go around at Hawkesbury on Sunday but I will wait until I see if there are any scratchings at Gosford,' Widdup said.
'If it ends up a small field, he may head that way.'
The son of Pierro was gallant in defeat on debut over 1300m at Wyong where he finished a length-and-the-quarter second behind Sapling who is one of the favourites in the opening race at Rosehill.
'He ran enormous on debut,' he said.
'He was a smidgen slow out but then he got a buffeted and settled a fair way off the leader.
'That's not ideal for a horse having its first start so he did a very good job to finish as close as he did.'
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