OMENS “OF SORTS” WITH GELDING FOR CITY DEBUT

WYONG trainer Allan Kehoe says the omens are with him for Prince Of Sorts to make a successful city debut at Royal Randwick on Saturday.

Group 1 winning jockey Ash Morgan partners Prince of Sorts in the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1400m).

The tough three-year-old gelding is in winning form, and his trainer was heartened when he drew barrier four for his first assignment in town.

“I was born on the fourth of the fourth, and always feel it is lucky when my horses draw barrier four,” Kehoe said this morning.

“Ash hasn’t ridden for me for a while, but is in great form and I’m happy to have him back on board.

“Prince Of Sorts has done well since his latest win at Hawkesbury (a Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap, 1400m on April 5).

“But I won’t be going to the well any longer with him this preparation.

“Win, lose or draw on Saturday, he is going to the paddock.

“Prince Of Sorts didn’t race as a two-year-old, and this will be his 12th start this season as a three-year-old.

“He has done a terrific job (four wins and as many placings), and I’ll give him a really good spell.”

Kehoe had two unsuccessful cracks with Prince Of Sorts to qualify for last Saturday’s $1m Provincial-Midway Championships Final (1400m) at Randwick, but nonetheless the son of Tassort has still managed two victories either side of those races.

He took a Benchmark 64 Handicap (1350m) at home on a heavy track on March 12 with 58.5kg, and then carried the same weight in his latest Hawkesbury triumph.

. Leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup has both Jedibeel (Craig Williams) and Phearson (apprentice Zac Wadick) in Saturday’s Group 3 Hall Mark Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.

Jedibeel, a first-up winner of the wfa Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on March 8, comes back in grade after two recent Group 1 assignments in The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on March 22 and TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 5.

On the other hand, dual Group 3 winner Phearson is beginning a new campaign.

“I’ve got the Brisbane winter carnival in mind with Jedibeel for two weight-for-age starts,” Widdup said.

“They are the Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm on May 3, and Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) a fortnight later.

“Phearson is in good order, and I’m really pleased with how he is training.

“But he’s getting older, and the competition is getting younger.”

Widdup has decided on a gear change for Tenbury Wells (Jason Collett) in the Group 3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m).

Winkers come off, and instead the three-year-old will race in a nose roll.

Tenbury Wells also comes back in grade after tackling the Group 1 Randwick Guineas (1600m) and Group 2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) at his last two starts.

Story John Curtis, April 17, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos