Hawkesbury-based trainer Brad Widdup is looking to keep his momentum flowing with a strong hand at the Hawkesbury Gold Cup meeting on Saturday.
Brad Widdup has been going well of late, striking at 12% winners from his last 50 runners, including winning three of his last six races.
He holds some good chances at his home track, with runners in three of the four feature races on the card.
Consistent mare Switched is looking for her first black type victory and gets into the Listed Hawkesbury Gold Rush (1100m) with only 53kg.
“She’s up in grade a little bit, but gets in with a good weight,” Widdup said.
“I’m happy with the way she’s going.
“Her two runs have been good as well. Caulfield the other day she was stuck on the inside there. I think there was a couple sectionals where they ran sub-11’s (seconds) early, which probably took its toll in the end.
“She travelled back form Melbourne good, and I think it’s a good opportunity for her to run on her home track in a black type race.”
The Hawkesbury-based trainer also saddles up Adelong in the same race.
The five-year-old mare has built an impressive record of five wins from 16 starts and is another who is looking to add that valuable black type next to her name.
The daughter of Medaglia d’Oro was only beaten by 3.2 lengths in the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes last start, and Widdup says she’ll be better second-up.
“She’ll strip a bit fitter after her first-up run and on the home track as well,” he said.
“I would’ve preferred her to have stayed out there a bit wider than what she did, the inside there was off. Not saying that changes the result but it probably just made her run a bit tougher.
“1200m on the inside there the other day where it wasn’t probably suitable.
“I think she’s going along well, and she gets a chance at a distance she likes as well.”
The Hawkesbury Guineas can produce a good winner, with horses like Chautauqua, Spill The Beans and Dawn Passage all winning the Group 3 event.
Widdup’s runner Calgary Queen has some nice form coming out of her last couple of starts and isn’t out of contention in an open race.
The Hawkesbury trainer thinks the daughter if Real Impact has what it takes to make the jump to black type races.
“She’s probably a filly that, next time through, will probably be a Saturday type of horse,” he said.
“Saturday horses are nearly black type horses now, it’s that competitive and strong.
“You have to be pretty bloody good these days. I think she’s in that calibre.
“I do like her. I definitely do like her.”
Adelong and Switched are $12 and $21 chances respectively for the Hawkesbury Gold Rush, while Calgary Queen is a $21 elect for the Hawkesbury Guineas.
