Latest news with #Brad Widdup
The Australian
30-07-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Scone preview: Late starter ready to Rock for trainer Rodney Northam
Scone trainer Rodney Northam has already equalled his best 45 winners for the season but a chance encounter after one of those wins could see him set a new benchmark. Northam saddles up his first runner for New Zealand's Cambridge Stud with Rockadeel who makes her race debut as a four-year-old in the opening race, the Maiden Handicap (900m). The daughter of Dundeel had three trials in May and August of 2023 for Brad Widdup but was off the scene until she trialled at Gunnedah on July 25 for Northam. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'I bumped into Henry Plumptre (Cambridge Stud CEO) after winning a Highway and he said they had a mare they think would suit coming to me,' said Northam. 'She injured herself and needed an extended spell. 'She was sound with the pre-trainers and sent her to me to try and get a win on the board. 'I'm quite pleased with what she has shown me since she arrived and her two trials have been good. 'The 900 metres might be 100 metres short of what she wants but it looks a nice race for her.' Northam has been pleased with the three runs of See You Then and feels she is a good chance to break through in the Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1100m). The daughter of Magna Grecia has been runner-up in each run, the latest a long head behind Hellwithasmile over 1000m at Tamworth on June 27. 'She really knuckled down well when she got clear,' he said. 'I think the 1100 metres should be fine, the track should be good and it looks like a winnable race for her. 'She had a foot abscess after her last run which is why the gap between races.' Smart Buy has been a little unlucky not to have broken through already but gets her chance in the Maiden Plate (1300m). The filly was held up on the turn when a three-quarter length second over 1300m at Dubbo back in March and found herself in a similar situation when fourth to Nova Centauri over 1000m at Scone first-up this campaign. 'The first-up run was really nice. The 1000 metres was always going to be a bit short for her but she was good through the line,' Northam said. 'She isn't an overly strong but she is a big filly with a decent stride and she takes a bit of balancing up. 'Stepping up to 1300 metres looks ideal and Scone is a great track for her with the big straight. 'It looks the perfect race for her.' Great Point has failed to produce her nest form in TAB Highways at Rosehill and Randwick at her past two starts but was a winner at Tamworth before that. Northam expects a return to her home track can see her turn her form around in the Benchmark 66 (1700m). 'I was a bit disappointed with her last run. I was expecting a bit more from her,' he said. 'She just hasn't really done well when we have gone to Sydney. Some horses just don't handle the travelling down there. 'Back on her home track where she has a good record and I think she can race really well.' Northam was extremely happy with the barrier trial of Upwardly Mobile at Scone on July 16 and expects her run very well when she kicks off her campaign. Which race that will be in will be determined by scratchings and the weather as she is in the Class 2 Handicap (1300m) and Benchmark 58 (1200m) where she is the second emergency. 'Her trial was super and I'll just weigh up both races,' he said.
News.com.au
30-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Scone preview: A chance encounter with Cambridge Stud boss could lead to record season for trainer Rodney Northam
Scone trainer Rodney Northam has already equalled his best 45 winners for the season but a chance encounter after one of those wins could see him set a new benchmark. Northam saddles up his first runner for New Zealand's Cambridge Stud with Rockadeel who makes her race debut as a four-year-old in the opening race, the Maiden Handicap (900m). The daughter of Dundeel had three trials in May and August of 2023 for Brad Widdup but was off the scene until she trialled at Gunnedah on July 25 for Northam. 'I bumped into Henry Plumptre (Cambridge Stud CEO) after winning a Highway and he said they had a mare they think would suit coming to me,' said Northam. 'She injured herself and needed an extended spell. 'She was sound with the pre-trainers and sent her to me to try and get a win on the board. Straand Care gives @NockBraith and @cavanoughracing a double at @sconeraceclub! â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 30, 2025 The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! 'I'm quite pleased with what she has shown me since she arrived and her two trials have been good. 'The 900 metres might be 100 metres short of what she wants but it looks a nice race for her.' Northam has been pleased with the three runs of See You Then and feels she is a good chance to break through in the Country Boosted Maiden Plate (1100m). The daughter of Magna Grecia has been runner-up in each run, the latest a long head behind Hellwithasmile over 1000m at Tamworth on June 27. 'She really knuckled down well when she got clear,' he said. 'I think the 1100 metres should be fine, the track should be good and it looks like a winnable race for her. 'She had a foot abscess after her last run which is why the gap between races.' Smart Buy has been a little unlucky not to have broken through already but gets her chance in the Maiden Plate (1300m). The filly was held up on the turn when a three-quarter length second over 1300m at Dubbo back in March and found herself in a similar situation when fourth to Nova Centauri over 1000m at Scone first-up this campaign. 'The first-up run was really nice. The 1000 metres was always going to be a bit short for her but she was good through the line,' Northam said. 🟣 Bhima Grad Winner 🟣 3YO filly Tulipwood (Russian Revolution x Lady Lakshmi) is tough to the line and claims her maiden at start two for @ANeashamRacing & @Rob_Arch1 🙌 Bred by Lachlan River Bloodstock, Mr P Treyvaud, Kiscm and Russo Super, she was an Inglis Easter Sale grad. â€' Bhima Thoroughbreds (@BhimaTBreds) March 7, 2025 'She isn't an overly strong but she is a big filly with a decent stride and she takes a bit of balancing up. 'Stepping up to 1300 metres looks ideal and Scone is a great track for her with the big straight. 'It looks the perfect race for her.' Great Point has failed to produce her nest form in TAB Highways at Rosehill and Randwick at her past two starts but was a winner at Tamworth before that. Northam expects a return to her home track can see her turn her form around in the Benchmark 66 (1700m). 'I was a bit disappointed with her last run. I was expecting a bit more from her,' he said. 'She just hasn't really done well when we have gone to Sydney. Some horses just don't handle the travelling down there. 'Back on her home track where she has a good record and I think she can race really well.' Northam was extremely happy with the barrier trial of Upwardly Mobile at Scone on July 16 and expects her run very well when she kicks off her campaign. Which race that will be in will be determined by scratchings and the weather as she is in the Class 2 Handicap (1300m) and Benchmark 58 (1200m) where she is the second emergency. 'Her trial was super and I'll just weigh up both races,' he said.
The Australian
28-07-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Nashville Jack in fine tune with slashing first-up win at Randwick
Trainer Brad Widdup waited until the last minute to decide to run Nashville Jack at Royal Randwick but his judgment proved correct as his promising colt put himself in the frame for the spring on Saturday. Widdup only made the final call on race-day morning to run his lightly-raced talent in the Keeneland September Yearling Sale 2YO Handicap (1100m) with the option to wait until Wednesday available to him. But the opportunity to run in the Saturday grade proved an opportunity too good to pass up. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Nashville Jack was comfortably up to challenge as he produced a slashing first-up performance to score as hot favourite Nazwah floundered. The son of Golden Slipper winner Farnan still isn't the complete product but Widdup is excited about what's to come. 'He is still growing into himself,' Widdup said. 'He has always had natural talent. He contested a couple of strong races early on. 'I was umming and arring whether to run today but when he drew well, it made it easy.' Jockey Jason Collett was able to use barrier two to give Nashville Jack a perfect run on the fence and the experienced hoop elected to make his run closest to the inside. Nashville Jack ($4.60) went through his gears nicely and hit the front inside the final 150m, coasting clear late to score by two lengths from Lindsay Park galloper Hello Romeo ($13) and the Kris Lees-trained Wisnierska ($81). 'He is a nice horse, he has a bit of substance to him,' Collett said. 'He obviously trialled really good coming into it and I don't think he minded that soft ground. 'It's probably on the worst side of a soft 6 but it was a good performance and was quite soft in the end once he got to the front.' Nashville Jack is raced by Mulberry Racing's Michael Gregg, who has been a substantial investor in yearlings in recent years and recently purchased a slot in the $20m The Everest. His latest colt wears the same bumblebee yellow and black silks of his Group 2 winning sprinter stablemate Jedibeel. Nashville Jack was one of 114 live foals that made up the first crop by the 2020 Golden Slipper winner and Kia Ora Stud resident sire, Farnan. The colt, who was foaled on Halloween in 2022, was knocked down to Widdup for $225,000 when offered at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Widdup tested him in stakes company in a pair of Golden Slipper lead-ups early in his career where the colt finished fourth in the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes and fifth in the Group 3 Black Opal Stakes. 'He has run in the Silver Slipper and his run in the Opal was very good when he came in with a shoe sticking halfway up his foot,' Widdup said. 'We put him out and he trialled up really well and it's great to see him return like that. 'It's not easy to do to come to Randwick against a couple of nice horses. 'I had him in Wednesday in a maiden and was umming and arring to the last minute this morning but it's great to see him come back and return like that.' Widdup is eager to see if Nashville Jack will measure up in black-type races again in the spring and will now consider running the colt in the Listed $200,000 The Rosebud (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 18, 'That race is probably the obvious,' Widdup said. 'We will have a look at that for sure and see what happens from there.' Nazwah, the $1.95 favourite, was coming off a dominant debut victory at Gosford but failed to replicate the first-up effort. The Peter Snowden-trained galloper had to do some work to find the front and lead Shaggy but ran out of gas over the concluding stages, finishing two-and-a-half lengths off the winner in sixth. Shaggy ($8) was similarly disappointing in his return, fading to only beat one runner home.
News.com.au
26-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Trainer Brad Widdup's eleventh-hour decision to run Nashville Jack yields a spectacular result at Randwick
Trainer Brad Widdup waited until the last minute to decide to run Nashville Jack at Royal Randwick but his judgment proved correct as his promising colt put himself in the frame for the spring on Saturday. Widdup only made the final call on race day morning to run his lightly-raced talent in the Keeneland September Yearling Sale 2YO Handicap (1100m) with the option to wait until Wednesday available to him. But the opportunity to run in the Saturday grade proved an opportunity too good to pass up. Nashville Jack was up comfortably up to challenge as he produced a slashing first-up performance to score as hot favourite Nazwah floundered. The son of Golden Slipper winner Farnan still isn't the complete product but Widdup is excited about what's to come. 'He is still growing into himself,' Widdup said. 'He has always had natural talent. He contested a couple of strong races early on. 'I was umming and arring whether to run today but when he drew well, it made it easy.' Jockey Jason Collett was able to use barrier two to give Nashville Jack a perfect run on the fence and the experienced hoop elected to make his run closest to the inside. Nashville Jack ($4.60) went through his gears nicely and hit the front inside the final 150m, coasting clear late to score by two lengths from Lindsay Park galloper Hello Romeo ($13) and the Kris Lees -trained Wisnierska ($81). 'He is a nice horse, he has a bit of substance to him,' Collett said. 'He obviously trialled really good coming into it and I don't think he minded that soft ground. 'It's probably on the worst side of a soft 6 but it was a good performance and was quite soft in the end once he got to the front.' Nashville Jack and Glad You Think So are your first two winners at Randwick! The Highway about to be run, if you've got the winner drop it ðŸ'‡ â€' 7HorseRacing ðŸ�Ž (@7horseracing) July 26, 2025 Nashville Jack is raced by Mulberry Racing's Michael Gregg, who has been a substantial investor in yearlings in recent years and recently purchased a slot in the $20 million The Everest. His latest colt wears the same bumblebee yellow and black silks of his Group 2 winning sprinter stablemate Jedibeel. Nashville Jack was one of 114 live foals that made up the first crop by the 2020 Golden Slipper winner and Kia Ora Stud resident sire, Farnan. The colt, who was foaled on Halloween in 2022, was knocked down to Widdup for $225,000 when offered at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. Widdup tested him in stakes company in a pair of Golden Slipper lead-ups early in his career where the colt finished fourth in the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes and fifth in the Group 3 Black Opal Stakes. 'He has run in the Silver Slipper and his run in the Opal was very good when he came in with a shoe sticking halfway up his foot,' Widdup said. 'We put him out and he trialled up really well and it's great to see him return like that. Jedibeel lets down and WINS the Challenge Stakes! ðŸ�† @BWiddupRacing | @G1TySchil â€' SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 8, 2025 'It's not easy to do to come to Randwick against a couple of nice horses. 'I had him in Wednesday in a maiden and was umming and arring to the last minute this morning but it's great to see him come back and return like that.' Widdup is eager to see if Nashville Jack will measure up in black type races again in the spring and will now consider running the colt in the Listed $200,000 The Rosebud (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 18, 'That race is probably the obvious,' Widdup said. 'We will have a look at that for sure and see what happens from there.' Nazwah, the $1.95 favourite, was coming off a dominant debut victory at Gosford but failed to replicate the first-up effort. The Peter Snowden -trained galloper had to do some work to find the front and lead Shaggy but ran out of gas over the concluding stages, finishing two-and-a-half lengths off the winner in sixth. Shaggy ($8) was similarly disappointing in his return, fading to only beat one runner home.
The Australian
19-07-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Gosford preview: Sneaky Choice aims for repeat victory
Trainer Brad Widdup is hoping history repeats for pint-sized filly 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. Trainer Brad Widdup is chasing a two-year-old win with You're The Choice. Picture: Grant Guy The Form: Complete NSW Racing thoroughbred form, including video replays and all you need to know about every horse, jockey and trainer. Find a winner here! '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. '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.'
