WIDDUP BACK IN MIDWAY HANDICAPS

HAWKESBURY’S leading trainer Brad Widdup will decide in the morning whether he makes a dual attempt to get an overdue Midway victory at Royal Randwick tomorrow.

Widdup will definitely start High Dandy (pictured above - Alysha Collett) in the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m), but has held off making a final decision on a start for stablemate Hasty Honey.

Jay Ford was to have partnered Hasty Honey, but was dislodged from his mount Investment at Canterbury on Wednesday and has been cleared of any injuries, but decided not to ride tomorrow, Widdup has been a considerable absentee from starting horses in Midway Handicaps, principally because of the deeds of his now retired Group 1 heroine Icebath.

“I was eligible when the first series of Midway Handicaps were introduced, and it’s good to be able to compete in them again,” Widdup said this morning.

“Hopefully High Dandy gets there tomorrow and jumps well.

“I put blinkers on him last time in a midweek Benchmark 72 Handicap (1550m) at Canterbury on June 18, but he bombed the start.

“That was the end of it, but he was beaten only three and a quarter lengths.

“There’s no doubt he has the ability to win a race such as this.

“Hasty Honey is going really well, but I also have her nominated for a Benchmark 72 Handicap (1550m) at the Kensington track on Wednesday, and that is against her own sex.

“Her major owner Adrian Whittingham (Honeycomb Stud) is currently overseas, and I’ll wait until before the 7.30 scratching deadline in the morning before deciding which way we will head.”

Hasty Honey, a four-year-old daughter of Epaulette, has returned in great heart.

She was an excellent first-up fourth to Fiddlers Green in a 1300m Benchmark 72 Handicap at Warwick Farm on June 4 before leading throughout and dominating her rivals over 1550m at the Kensington track three weeks later.

Hasty Honey was an $8 chance and High Dandy $21 with TAB.com.au this morning.

Kembla Grange trainer Kerry Parker’s mare Callistemon (Jason Collett), seeking to double up after scoring in the same grade and over the same trip at Randwick on June 21, is a firm $2.90 favorite.

Former Victorian mare Kind Gesture, who races in the same colours as Hasty Honey, will make her debut under Widdup’s banner in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m) at Randwick, and Andrew Adkins has the mount.

The now six-year-old mare began her career in the UK and won twice over 1408m and 1638m.

She also won an 1800m Benchmark 70 Handicap against her own sex on the Caulfield Heath circuit last December.

“Connections sent Kind Gesture to me looking for better tracks, hoping we can win another race or two with her before she begins a breeding career,” Widdup said.

“Her three wins have all been on good ground.

“Kind Gesture’s second trial at Kembla Grange on July 1 was good, and I have taken a cross-over nose band off her.

“She isn’t a big mare and obviously if we can’t get her firing and rising seven years of age, she will go off to stud.”

Story John Curtis, July 11, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos