JUST AWESOME LIVES UP TO HIS NAME

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BLAKE Ryan is going back to the “scene of the crime” with yesterday’s impressive Newcastle winner Just Awesome.

Living up to his name, the well supported $2.30 favorite didn’t give his rivals a look-in, bolting home by more than three lengths in the Provincial Benchmark 64 Handicap (900m).

The Hawkesbury trainer took advantage of Hawkesbury apprentice Leeshelle Small’s 3kg provincial claim to lessen Just Awesome’s impost to 58kg – and it provided a decisive result.

The Written Tycoon four-year-old was simply too fast, and defeated $101 rank outsider Bethsheba and last December’s Royal Randwick winner Where’s The Circus ($15).

It was the gelding’s third win from eight starts, and his second start since being gelded.

“That was necessary, and Just Awesome is showing the benefit of the operation,” Ryan said.

“I was also pleased to see him win yesterday for Leeshelle (who is indentured to leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup).

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“She rides quite a bit of work for me.

“Just Awesome trialled really well twice at Hawkesbury (July 27) and Rosehill Gardens (August 7), and took great improvement from his first-up fifth at Warwick Farm a month ago.

“I would have run him at Canterbury last Wednesday if he had drawn okay, and also nominated him for the Hurricane Handicap at Newcastle last Friday, but decided to wait for yesterday’s race.

“Just Awesome is a very fast horse, and he looked really well suited.

“He takes a step or two to get going once he leaves the barriers, but has natural speed.

“All going well, we will go back to the scene of the crime for another 900m race (Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap) at Newcastle on October 6, and try to repeat the dose.

“There’s no reason why he should not be hard to beat again.”

Whilst Just Awesome is clearly a 900m speedball, he did score at 1100m at Gosford in a 2YO Maiden in June last year when on debut.

. Meanwhile, Brad Widdup has had to cancel plans for a Group 1 shot in Melbourne next weekend with Savvy Hallie.

The four-year-old mare was galloped on from behind in leading throughout in the Group 2 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens a week ago.

“I’ve had to give her an easy week,” Widdup said today.

“I’ll gallop her at Hawkesbury in the morning, and hopefully the wound doesn’t open up.

“Unfortunately, the $2m Manikato Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield next Sunday is out.

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“Provided she comes through tomorrow’s gallop okay, we’ll look at another plan with her.

Widdup is hoping Savvy Hallie gets a guernsey for another $2m feature, The Invitation (1400m) at Randwick on October 24.

He won the 2021 edition for fillies and mares with his subsequent Group 1 winner, the now retired Icebath.

Whilst the Manikato has been ruled out, Widdup is looking forward to Saturday’s $1m Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens at Rosehill Gardens with his talented colt Tenenbaum’

Chad Schofield again rides Tenenbaum, who didn’t get any favours his way when being forced to race wide and third in the Group 3 Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) at that track a week ago.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, SEPTEMBER 20, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS