JEDIBEEL STAYING IN SYDNEY TO PUSH EVEREST CLAIMS

TALENTED sprinter Jedibeel is staying at home to run at Royal Randwick on Saturday and push his claims for a spot in The Everest.

Leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup accepted with the gelding in both the Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1100m), and Group 1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at The Valley.

Jedibeel drew well enough in both races (four in a field of 14 in the Concorde, and six in a field of 15 plus one emergency in the Moir).

“I wanted to cover my bases in case Jedibeel drew poorly in one race,” Widdup said this evening.

“Now that he has drawn nicely in the Concorde, we’re staying in Sydney.”

Kerrin McEvoy will be a new rider for the now six-year-old gelding, who has an outstanding first-up record.

Jedibeel has won three and finished second twice from his five starts at the beginning of a preparation.

With regular rider Tyler Schiller committed to Briasa, last November’s Newcastle The Hunter winner and $8 third favorite for The Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 18, Widdup called on McEvoy, who won the inaugural running of the $2m The Invitation (1400m) at Randwick in 2021 on the trainer’s now retired Group 1 winner Icebath.

Jedibeel won the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick in March when resuming, and raced well at two starts during the Brisbane winter carnival.

He was pipped at the post in the Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on May 3, and was out of luck in the straight a fortnight later when eighth in the Group 1 Doomben Ten Thousand (1200m).

Both Brisbane races were at weight-for-age, whereas the Concorde is at set weight plus penalties, with Jedibeel to carry 59kg, 5kg above the minimum.

Widdup has trialled the gelding twice, with McEvoy aboard, finishing fourth over 900m at Warwick Farm on August 8 and again fourth over 800m on his home track on August 25.

“I’m very happy with Jedibeel,” Widdup said. “He is in great order and ready to go back to the races.

“Obviously the Concorde has a strong line-up, and slot holders who still haven’t finalised a runner will be watching keenly.”

Widdup also takes his Silver Shadow Stakes winner Savvy Hallie (Jay Ford) back to Randwick on Saturday as she strives not only to clinch the second leg of the Princess Series for three-year-old fillies, but also a hat-trick in the Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m).

Savvy Hallie cruised home first-up in a Newcastle Super Maiden Plate (900m) against her own age on August 14, and then graduated to city company by taking the Group 2 Silver Shadow (1200m) at Randwick nine days later.

“Savvy Hallie has trained on strongly, and has drawn nicely again,” Widdup said.

Twelve horses accepted for Friday’s $250,000 Listed Wyong Leagues Group Wyong Gold Cup (2100m), with decisions to be made on Cleveland, Age Of Sail, Travolta and Glory Daze, who also are acceptors for Saturday’s Listed City Tattersalls Club Cup (2400m) at Randwick.

Travolta’s trainer Chris Waller has already withdrawn Saltcoats from Tatts Cup to start at Wyong, where he is seeking to win the provincial Cup for a ninth time.

He first won the race in 2010 with Hawk Island and lastly with the ill-fated Durston (who went on to win the Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup and then Group 1 Caulfield Cup) in 2022.

Wyong Race Club’s decision to bring back the Group 3 Domeland Mona Lisa Stakes (1350m) to Cup day and boost prizemoney $50,000 to $250,000 has resulted in a capacity line-up.

Sixteen fillies and mares were drawn along with four emergencies, and TAB.com.au this afternoon made it $5.50 the field.

. Leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees was the sole provincial winner at today’s Warwick Farm fixture.

His three-year-old filly Cantiamo (James McDonald) defied a betting drift and made it two in a row, in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m) as a $3.10 favorite.

Story John Curtis, September 3, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos