WAEREA OUT TO PROVE HE IS PROVINCIAL-MIDWAY C’SHIPS MATERIAL

BRAD Widdup has Provincial-Midway Championships ambitions for Waerea next autumn, and wants to see him put away his rivals at Hawkesbury tomorrow.

The lightly-raced Bivouac four-year-old, a half-brother to Hawkesbury’s now retired triple Group 1 winner Duais (by Shamus Award), is a current $1.45 hotpot with TAB.com.au for the Elite Sand & Soil Provincial Class 1 Handicap (1300m).

Waerea has raced only six times for one win (a Kembla Grange Provincial Maiden Plate, 1400m in February) and four seconds; the latest when narrowly beaten on resumption at Wyong in a Benchmark 64 Handicap (1200m) on July 23.

“I’m not sure if Waerea was unlucky or not that day,” Widdup said this morning.

“He got out into the clear and just failed to pick up the winner (Condone) in a tight finish.

“Waerea is certainly very consistent and with that run behind him, I want to see him put his rivals away tomorrow, even with 60kg topweight.

“I’d like to give him a preparation now with the aim of going to the Provincial-Midway Championships next year, and the owners are on board with that.”

Widdup said he considered putting either winkers or blinkers on Waerea tomorrow, but decided against it after discussing the matter with jockey Chad Schofield at Rosehill Gardens trials last Friday.

“Chad felt he didn’t need a change, so I’ve left as is,” he added.

Schofield will ride all three of Widdup’s representatives at Hawkesbury’s first meeting of the new season as the track’s premier trainer attempts to make it three premierships in a row.

Along with Waerea, stablemates Don’tcallmekathy and Latest Flame will contest the Country Music Raceday 5 September Class 1 Handicap (1500m) and De Bortoli Maiden Handicap (1100m) respectively.

A cross-over nose band comes off Don’tcallmekathy, and pacifiers are on Latest Flame, but will be removed at the barrier.

“Don’tcallmekathy began awkwardly when resuming at home last month, and I’m overlooking the run,” Widdup said.

“She has since trialled well when second at Hawkesbury on July 27 (the winner Time Quest ran fourth in last Friday’s Coffs Harbour Cup, and third placegetter Eliyass won last Saturday’s Royal Randwick Premier’s Cup Prelude).”

Savabeel filly Latest Flame is the first horse Widdup has taken to the races for her owner, New Zealand’s famed Cambridge Stud.

“Latest Flame has had two trials at Rosehill Gardens, and is ready to begin her racing career,” Widdup said.

“This race will be good experience for her, and she is a nice filly who I’m sure is going to be allright.”

Widdup meanwhile is looking forward to getting his stable ace Savvy Hallie going again, with a spring campaign ready to kick off at Randwick on Saturday week.

“Savvy Hallie won her 900m Group and Listed trial really well at Rosehill last Friday,” he said.

“I will nominate her for both the Group 3 Toy Show Quality (1100m) and Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m), but at this stage I’m leaning to the former against her own sex.

“Nash Rawiller will continue his successful association with her.”

Rawiller won the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Randwick in February on the now four-year-old mare before she was narrowly beaten by Tempted in the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) there a fortnight later.

The rail is out varying distances for tomorrow’s meeting; 5m from the 1100m to 450m, 3m from the 450m to winning post, and in the TRUE position for the remainder of the circuit.

Racecourse manager Digby Nuthall at 8.30am today posted a ‘Soft 6’ rating for the seven-event program, which begins at 1.20pm.

A total of 10mm of rain was recorded in the 24 hours up until that time, and overall 14mm in the past seven days.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, AUGUST 10, 2026 - BRADLEY PHOTOS