PERTH PURCHASE BLOSSOMS AT GOSFORD

BRAD Widdup had never been to a Perth yearling sale until he and major client, Mulberry Racing’s Mike Gregg, went there last year.

They purchased four fillies; only two have raced so far and one of them, Bondi Blossom, got off the mark at Gosford today.

Starting a $4.40 third favorite at her sixth start, Bondi Blossom (Christian Reith) broke through in the Provincial Maiden Handicap (1600m), comfortably defeating Kembla Grange four-year-old and $2.70 favorite Phoenix Legend.

Widdup’s success along with fellow Hawkesbury trainer Peter Green, who won the previous race, the Vale Gil Slattery Super Maiden Plate (1200m) with $19 chance Bold and Blazen, took the local training base’s number of winners so far this season to 48.

“We didn’t go to the Perth sale intending to buy solely fillies,” Widdup said this evening.

“It was just the way it worked out, and we went back earlier this year and bought a Playing God filly ($90,000).”

Farnan filly Seven Days is the only other to race from last year’s purchases – and she is unplaced from two starts.

Bondi Blossom was the last and cheapest of the four “girls” purchased last year.

She fetched $45,000, whereas Seven Days was $130,000, and the Playing God and Deep Field fillies $210,000 and $180,000 respectively.

Widdup took blinkers off Bondi filly Bondi Blossom for her Gosford assignment.

“She was narrowly beaten over 1500m at Kembla Grange on October 13, and then disappointed at her next run there over 1600m 12 days later.

“Christian said she raced too keenly that day, and so I decided to race her at Gosford without the blinkers.

“She settled nicely back in the field, and rounded up her rivals in the straight to win well.”

Widdup starts two-year-old Anthropoid (Tyler Schiller) in Saturday’s Golden Gift (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens, and is heading to Melbourne where he will saddle Jedibeel and Sunset Park at the finale of the four-day Melbourne Cup carnival at Flemington.

Anthropoid, a Prague two-year-old who also races in the Mulberry colours, was an eye-catching fourth on debut to fellow Hawkesbury youngster Thrill Hunter in the Kirkham Plate (1000m) at Royal Randwick on October 25.

“I feel he is going to make into a nice horse,” Widdup said.

“Anthropoid is still inexperienced, but it’s a $1m race and I have never been frightened to have a go.”

Widdup has been forced to secure replacement jockeys for both Melbourne representatives.

He was fortunate to secure Melbourne Cup winning jockey Jamie Melham for Sunset Park in the Group 2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m), and Ethan Brown rides Jedibeel in the $3m Group 1 Champions Sprint (1200m).

“Lachlan Neindorf rode Sunset Park when she ran third in the Group 3 Tesio Stakes (2040m) at The Valley and was unlucky not to have won, and has since been suspended, whilst Blake Shinn was to have ridden Jedibeel but broke a leg in a fall at Flemington on Tuesday.”

. Peter Green paid credit to jockey Grant Buckley after the pair had won the Super Maiden Plate at Gosford.

Bold and Blazen led throughout to upset favored pair, Good Hotspur ($2.90) and Lambertina ($2.70 favorite).

Green took over the now five-year-old gelding’s preparation last year after he was sold following a lengthy break from racing.

“Bold and Blazen has got ability, but has had issues at the barriers,” Green explained.

“Grant has done a lot of work behind the scenes with the horse, and deserves a lot of credit.

“Our plan was to get to the front today and kick away on straightening, and that’s exactly what happened.

“I have to start Bold and Blazen at tracks where the starter and attendants know him.

“Hopefully that win will give him confidence, and he can go on to better things.”

Bold and Blazen had been runner-up twice recently (at Gosford and Hawkesbury) and start number 13 today proved no barrier at all.

. Along with Wyong’s Damien Lane (story posted separately, Kembla Grange trainer Stephen Hill was the other provincial trainer to enjoy success at the Gosford meeting.

Hill took the Class 1/Maiden Plate (2100m) with $8.50 chance Anulfa, ridden by apprentice Mitch Stapleford.

Story John Curtis, November 6, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos