MAY KEEN TO DOUBLE UP WITH CAELUS

A heavy track is not deterring Kevin May from chasing back to back victories with Caelus on his home track at Hawkesbury tomorrow.

And the former jockey is understandably keen for the lightly-raced three-year-old to achieve that in the HRC Motel Provincial Class 1 Handicap (1400m) to put his name up in lights by underlining his training prowess.

May, who has only a small team in work, returned to the winner’s circle when Caelus broke through at only his third start in a Provincial Maiden Handicap (1300m) at home on June 17.

Newcastle apprentice William Stanley, a benchmark 36 season winners already in his pocket, rode the Lord Of The Sky gelding that day, and has the mount again.

His 2kg allowance lessens Caelus’ weight to 55.5kg, only 1kg above what he carried in scoring last month.

May and his wife Kelly purchased Caelus for $15,000 at the 2023 Inglis HTBA yearling sale, not expecting to be able to secure him as they thought his price would extend beyond their budget.

Named after the Roman god of the sky, Caelus didn’t race as a two-year-old and went shin sore after his first trial last September as an early three-year-old.

He then had a break and had muscle soreness after returning, necessitating further time out, which coincided with his trainer breaking a leg riding trackwork for a fellow Hawkesbury trainer.

“Caelus has done well since winning his Maiden, and I’m not too concerned about the heavy track,” May said this morning.

“Even though the track was rated a ‘Soft 7’ when he had his second start over 1000m at Goulburn on May 30, it was pretty boggy.

“I thought he quickened nicely at the end over a distance was too short for him, and then appreciated going up to 1300m next time at home.

“I gave Caelus his morning in a little trot and canter and he felt great. I’m really pleased with him.”

Leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup says the weather over the next 24 hours will determine if early favorite Bella Khadijah (Jason Collett) takes her place and resumes in the Provincial Class 1 Handicap.

Widdup (12 wins) is one win behind Annabel and Rob Archibald in this season’s Hawkesbury premiership, with only this meeting and another on July 20 remaining.

“Bella Khadijah has raced four times on soft tracks for a win and two placings, but hasn’t started on a heavy track,” he said this morning.

“I’ll see what happens with the weather today and speak with the owner before deciding whether she runs.”

A three-year-old daughter of Pierata, Bella Khadijah began her career with Widdup and raced twice, including a Randwick two-year-old placing on debut in January last year, before being transferred to Peter Robl at the Gold Coast.

After three starts for Robl – for two placings and a Doomben 1350m breakthrough not quite 12 months ago – she came back to Hawkesbury and was immediately placed in a Saturday Benchmark 72 Handicap (1400m) at Royal Randwick for Widdup.

Kembla Grange co-trainer Luke Price has put Cuban Rain (Brock Ryan) on the doubtful list in the Class 1 Handicap.

“At this stage, I’m not keen to run her if it’s a really heavy track,” he said this morning.

Cuban Rain will race next in a tongue tie after displacing her palate when a beaten favorite (fourth to Butterfly Style) in a similar race at home on June 21.

This is not an unusual occurrence when the soft palate, located at the back of a horse’s mouth, is displaced during exertion, causing partial or complete airway obstruction.

Cuban Rain had been an easy winner of a Provincial Maiden Handicap (1300m) at Kembla Grange on June 3 prior to her defeat.

The filly’s stablemate All Saints is also a doubtful runner in the Godolphin Family Funday Midway Maiden Handicap (1000m).

Hawkesbury racecourse manager Digby Nuthall at 8am today posted a ‘Heavy 8’ rating for tomorrow’s eight-race program, which begins at 12.15pm.

“We had 42mm of rain in the previous 24 hours,” Nuthall said.

“At this stage the meeting is not in doubt, provided of course that we do not get further heavy rain.”

The rail is 3m out from the 1100m to 450m, and in the TRUE position for the remainder of the circuit.

Story John Curtis, July 2, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos