Although Brad Widdup is no stranger to big-race wins in his former profession, the fledgling trainer’s first Saturday metropolitan winner is one to savour.
Widdup worked for Sheikh Mohammed’s Darley operation under Peter Snowden and stayed on when John O’Shea took over as head trainer under the Godolphin banner.
He attended to many of the stable’s Group One winners over the years but was excited to be at Rosehill with one under his own name.
Earlier this year, Widdup branched out to train at Hawkesbury, primarily for Damion Flower, and Suspenders gave him his first city win in Saturday’s #theraces Handicap (1200m) when she fought off Slumber Party to win by a neck, with Faith’s Encore in third.
“That’s Brad’s fifth winner from just 15 starters,” Flower said.
“He’s going great guns and I couldn’t be happier.”
Widdup’s first starter on May 29, Junglized, won at Canberra, and four different horses including Suspenders make up his other winners.
“Things are going really well,” Widdup said.
Suspenders was the second leg of a winning double for Widdup’s brother-in-law Christian Reith, who earlier rode the Greg McFarlane-trained Clear The Beach to win the ATC Owner Benefits Card (1100m).
McFarlane, who is based on the Central Coast, will now aim Clear The Beach, the winner of three of his nine starts, at next year’s Provincial Championship.
Both the Provincial and Country Championship finals at Randwick have received a prize money boost to $500,000.
