WIDDUP BOOKS MELBOURNE GUN FOR PLUM CHAMPIONSHIPS RIDES

BRAD Widdup has called on Melbourne ace Craig Williams to hunt two feature races at The Championships at Royal Randwick.

The winner of 82 Group 1 races (including the Hong Kong Derby a week ago), Williams provided Hawkesbury’s leading trainer with a major breakthrough on Icebath in the Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Melbourne’s 2022 spring carnival at Flemington.

Widdup today confirmed Williams’ booking for Jedibeel in Saturday’s $3m Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m), and Money Team in Saturday week’s $1m Provincial-Midway Championships Final (1400m).

Jedibeel, after winning the Group 2 weight-for-age Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on March 8, drew poorly when ninth in unbeaten Newcastle three-year-old Private Harry’s Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens a fortnight later.

Widdup considered the gelding harshly handicapped with 56.5kg in comparison to some Galaxy rivals, and returns him to a wfa contest in the TJ Smith.

“Craig is riding at both days of The Championships, and I’m always happy to have him on my horses whenever the opportunities arise,” he said this morning.

“Our apprentice Zac Wadick has been unbeaten on Money Team in his four runs for me, but the gelding’s owners felt Williams’ experience in such an important race as the Provincial-Midway Final was too good to pass up when he was available.”

Former Victorian Money Team, a $1m purchase at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter yearling sale, has been a revelation since being taken over by Widdup, and is currently an $11 chance for the Final.

Purchased online for $55,000 by former Gosford trainer Adrian Britt and subsequently gelded, the four-year-old son of I Am Invincible has reeled off victories at Wyong (twice), Hawkesbury and Gosford.

Money Team’s latest success in the Gosford Qualifier (1200m) on March 15 earned him a berth in the PMC Final.

Widdup gave him a tick-over trial at Randwick last Friday when, with Dylan Gibbons aboard, he ran fifth in a 1050m heat.

With 50 winners to his credit already this season, Widdup hopes to gain one of the last three Final spots with Colours Of Autumn in Thursday’s rescheduled Wyong Wild Card (1350m).

“Colours Of Autumn will definitely run, and Zac will ride her,” he said.

. Newcastle’s two Group 1 Inglis Sires (1400m) representatives on Saturday will both be ridden by

Australian expats currently based in Hong Kong.

Hugh Bowman returns to partner luckless Golden Slipper fourth Rivellino for Kris Lees, and Zac Purton has been booked for trainer David Atkins and owner Matt Chidgey’s Buffalo.

The talented youngster broke through in a 2YO Maiden Plate (1200m) at home on March 25 at his fourth start, when ridden by Jason Collett.

Rivellino is a $3.50 second favorite for the Sires, and Buffalo is at $15.

Champion Hong Kong jockey Purton is chasing his fourth Group 1 Doncaster Mile on Saturday on former Canadian mare Moira, having previously been successful on Sacred Falls (2014), It’s Somewhat (2017) and Mr Brightside (2023).

. HOOFNOTE: Provincial trainers Mark Minervini (Newcastle) and Greg McFarlane (Gosford) were successful at yesterday’s Port Macquarie TAB fixture.

Minervini landed his 12th winner of the season as he edges toward a career 500 (currently 488) when Invader four-year-old Cool Space ($2.90 favorite) took the Maiden Handicap (1010m).

McFarlane made it 15 for the season when Sweet Bubbles ($6) won the Benchmark 50 Handicap (1512m).

The three-year-old daughter of Prized Icon has now won two of her only four starts.

Story John Curtis, March 30, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos