Having recently farewelled stable star Icebath, Brad Widdup is heading to the two-day Scone carnival hopeful his next generation of horses can step up to the plate.
A Group 1 winner with prizemoney earnings of more than $5 million, Icebath fetched $2.3 million at the recent Chairman’s Sale and will now embark on her next chapter as a broodmare.
It was a bittersweet sale for Widdup, knowing the void the departure of his best horse would leave while also looking back with gratitude on her wonderful career.
“It was hard to do but she’s been great for my stable and family,” Widdup said.
“Hopefully she goes off and becomes a good mum now.”
While Icebath will be sorely missed, Widdup has some promising young horses coming through and his stable has been further bolstered by the addition of around 10 horses formerly trained by Mark Newnham, who is moving to Hong Kong.
Among them is Group 3 placegetter Sneaky Paige, who will have her first start for Widdup in the Listed Ortensia Stakes (1100m).
Sneaky Paige has a superior first-up record and Widdup sees the Scone race as a good campaign launch pad, albeit the mare’s best form is on rain-affected ground which she is unlikely to get on Saturday.
“There are a few races around for her and we will try to get some more black-type for her, but Saturday is a good starting point,” Widdup said.
“She’s a really nice mare and I’m very lucky she has come into my hands.”
Enigmatic stablemate Authentic Jewel also resumes in the same race and while she can mix her form, Widdup is seeing positive signs from her ahead of her latest campaign.
“She has been going really well this preparation,” Widdup said.
“She has been a bit frustrating, but I took her back to basics. I took all the gear off her and even took the tongue tie off her and she seems to be liking it. Hopefully we can get her back.
“She normally races well fresh and she does like dry tracks.”
Widdup will decide in the coming days if Short Shorts, who was narrowly beaten by Flag Of Honour at Gosford last weekend, backs-up in the Group 3 Dark Jewel Classic (1400m) after she drew awkwardly in barrier 12.
