PROVINCIAL trainers Brad Widdup and Nathan Doyle both are chasing a maiden Group 1 Sydney triumph with fillies in the same race at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Hawkesbury’s Widdup will start Noises, and Newcastle’s Doyle his recent Group 1 placegetter Harlem Queen in the $2m Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) for three-year-olds.
Andrew Adkins has been booked for improving filly Noises, and Sam Clipperton continues his association with the talented Harlem Queen.
Gosford trainer Greg McFarlane also entered his colt Kosuke for the Spring Champion, but on Tuesday afternoon was unsure whether he would accept.
“It all depends how he gallops on Wednesday morning,” McFarlane said.
Whilst Widdup has declared Noises a definite runner, he hasn’t ruled out having a second runner; the colt Tenbury Wells.
“I will wait until as late as possible before the 9am acceptance deadline on Wednesday before making a decision about Tenbury Wells,” he said on Tuesday.
“If it’s only a small field, there’s a good chance we will accept with him.”
Saturday week’s Group 1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington is Tenbury Wells’ main target.
“It wouldn’t be an easy task running him on Saturday, and then backing up in the Derby a week later,” Widdup said.
“But he is a tough horse, and running in both races isn’t altogether out of the question.”
Widdup has been happy with Tenbury Wells’ progress since his good fifth to El Castello in the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill Gardens on October 12 and, similarly, Noises since her gallant second to Mountain Top in a Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m) at Warwick Farm five daysearlier.
Tenbury Wells had impressively won his previous two starts in provincial grade over 1600m and 2000m at Kembla Grange, and Noises had also won her previous two starts at home, over 1500m and 1800m.
Whilst Widdup won the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) with Icebath at the Melbourne Cup carnival at Flemington two years ago, he is yet win a major in Sydney, though he has had four placings.
The same applies to Doyle, who ran second with Harlem Queen in the Flight Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on October 5 – his first Group 1 runner.
“Sam Clipperton came to Broadmeadow on Tuesday morning to gallop the filly on the course proper, and was happy with her,” Doyle’s racing manager David Dyson said.
“Nathan believes she is looking for 2000m given the manner she finished off last time.”
Prior to Wednesday morning acceptances, Harlem Queen was on the fourth line of betting at $6 for the Spring Champion, whilst Tenbury Wells was at $11 and Noises $34.
As with Tenbury Wells and Noises, Harlem Queen had also won two in a row, both at home over 1200m and 1400m, before graduating to the Flight and chasing home Lady Shenandoah.
Harlem Queen’s stablemate Overriding, third to Willaidow in a Benchmark 88 Handicap (1400m) at Randwick last Saturday, goes back there on November 5 for the $3m Big Dance (1600m).
She qualified by winning the Muswellbrook Gold Cup (1500m), held at Newcastle, in April.
Tenbury Wells and Noises’ stablemate High Dandy is going to the $750,000 Little Dance (1600m) on the same November 5program.
He ran second in the Big Dance Eligibility Dubbo Cup (1600m) on September 29 before finishing fourth to Ducasse in the Wild Card (1600m) at Randwick last Saturday, where the first two placegetters (Vivy Air was the other) gained Big Dance starts.
Meanwhile, Widdup has brought Phearson home from Melbourne after his solid fifth there last Saturday in the Group 3 Moonga Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
Story John Curtis, October 22, 2024
Comments