PMC FINAL TRAINERS GET “IN THE GROOVE”

PROVINCIAL-MIDWAY Championships Final trainers Brad Widdup and Kerry Parker tuned up with wins at Hawkesbury today.

Hawkesbury’s Widdup took the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1100m) with Tequila Baby ($8), and Kembla Grange’s Parker followed suit by landing the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1800m) with the talented Flying Bandit ($3.50 favorite pictured above).

Widdup will be represented by Money Team (Craig Williams) in Saturday’s $1m PMC Final (1400m), and Parker saddles Well Timed (Nash Rawiller).

Lightly-raced Capitalist three-year-old filly Tequila Baby was Widdup’s 51st winner of the season – and did it in style.

She began quickly, sat outside the leader Iowna Benz ($9) and then took charge in the straight and surged clear to easily defeat $2.20 favorite Couples Retreat.

“I was especially pleased for our apprentice Zac Wadick, who hasn’t had the best of luck in the last few weeks (his previous winner was Money Team in a PMC Qualifier on March 15),” Widdup said.

“Zac rode this filly confidently, and I’m sure it will give him a good boost.”

A $210,000 weanling purchase in 2022, Tequila Baby was subsequently passed in at $250,000 at the Inglis Classic yearling sale the following year.

“I’ve always liked her,” Widdup said.

“I took her to the country for a couple of those $50,000 Super Maidens last year. She ran second at Port Macquarie in October and then won at Gundagai in November.

“I put blinkers on her for the Gundagai race, and I’m sure it has made a difference as she has now won two in a row.”

Widdup was understandably disappointed when Money Team drew the outside barrier and will jump from 15 in Saturday’s Final.

Money Team is unbeaten from four starts since joining the leading Hawkesbury trainer’s stable, and had a tick-over1050m trial at Randwick on March 28 (won by last Saturday’s Day 1 The Championships winner Evaporate).

“We’re going to need a great ride by Craig from out there, and plenty of luck as well,” Widdup said.

Meanwhile, four-year-old Flying Bandit’s record keeps getting better.

His Benchmark 78 victory, stepping up to 1800m at only his second start this campaign, gave him a 50 per cent strike rate (five wins from 10 starts).

Though jockey Jay Ford afterwards said the gelding was “in a mood” and wasn’t suited by a slower than anticipated pace, he did a terrific job to come from near the rear approaching the home turn.

Flying Bandit powered home out wide on the track to defeat Collect Your Cash ($5) and Perfect Play ($4.20).

Ford had no doubts the $20,000 Adelaide Magic Millions buy would manage at least 2400m.

Parker, who posted his 17th winner of the season, attempted to qualify Flying Bandit for the PMC Final first-up at his home track on March 22, but the gelding found the 1400m too short when a late closing third to Imposant.

“He’s a more mature horse now,” Parker said. “There’s another 1800m race coming up for him (a 3&4YO Benchmark 78 on the Kensington track on Anzac Day), and he’ll probably go there.

“We’ll keep letting him progress.”

Story John Curtis, April 9, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos