Despite finishing at the tail of the field last start, Hawkesbury-based trainer Brad Widdup saw enough of Switched to know she’s back in business.
The daughter of All Too Hard finished last of seven in her most recent outing but was only beaten 2.2 lengths.
The four-year-old has $275,000 in stakes next to her name and was tested in black type company on her home track contesting the Hawkesbury Rush back in May.
Widdup said the mare may have enjoyed her spell a little too much, saying she’s on the right track now.
“After those two wins last time in I gave her a decent break and she probably just did too well and it’s taken me a few runs to work out that her fitness probably wasn’t at the level it needed to be,” he said.
“Her run was good the other day. When I say good, it was 1200m and she ran last, but she wasn’t beaten far and definitely showed signs to me that she’s going the right way.
“I was very happy with her work this (Tuesday) morning.
“Going back to 1100m, she’s definitely going to be a lot more suitable for her.”
Switched has been a consistent galloper for her connections throughout her career, with four wins and a further 10 placings from only 19 starts.
She ran third to the Everest bound Lost And Running first-up this campaign, before a failed hit-and-run mission at Caulfield, albeit without much going her way.
Widdup said he may have been too cautious with the four-year-old.
“I just think that maybe I wrapped her up in cotton wool too much, gave her that good break and then just sort of thought she’d come back where she normally was,” he said.
“Her run was good first-up, I was happy enough with that against Lost And Running.
“And then Melbourne, I forgave her for her Melbourne run. Caulfield first time, she was on the inside and all the winners were down the middle.
“But, then the run here at Hawkesbury, that was not like her.
“I sort of started to overreact a bit, and we went back to the drawing board and trialled her and she trialled pretty good. Her run the other day was good and I’m sure it’s bought her right on.
“She should be getting towards where she needs to be now, I think we’re on the right leg now.”
Widdup will also saddle up promising three-year-old Queen Bellissimo, who is coming off the back of two strong wins at Newcastle.
The daughter of Swiss Ace has made enough of an impression on Widdup to send her to Randwick at just her fifth start.
Widdup said Queen Bellissimo is still learning the racing caper, but has the ability to be a Saturday class horse.
“Still doing a bit wrong, but I think she’s definitely up to Saturday grade,” he said.
“She seems to be training on really well at the moment.
“She’s been carrying weight and it’s hard for a three-year-old filly to be racing around that provincial benchmark, it’s not always easy.
“It shows you they’re a bit progressive if they can do what she’s done.”
