WIDDUP HOPING “RUBY” WILL BE A CAMERON FLYER

HAWKESBURY’S leading trainer Brad Widdup has had precious few chances to win a major feature race at Newcastle.

And whilst it won’t be a heavy track at Broadmeadow, he has a definite opportunity with an outsider to land tomorrow’s $250,000 Group 3 Cameron Handicap (1500m) at the Gold Cup meeting.

Importantly, he has a “Newcastle connection” to help him put his name on one of Newcastle Jockey Club’s flagship events.

Widdup will start his recent Goulburn Cup winner Ruby Flyer in the Cameron, and Dylan Gibbons, who cut his riding teeth here when apprenticed to leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees, has the mount.

Gibbons took the shortest way home along the inside when Ruby Flyer bounced back to winning form in the $200,000 Goulburn Cup (1400m) on a heavy track on August 24 (third placegetter Estadio Mestalla backed up six days later and won at Rosehill Gardens).

That was Ruby Flyer’s third success from as many starts on heavy ground.

“I would have liked to see some rain, but it looks like that won’t be the case,” Widdup said this afternoon.

“Still Ruby Flyer has won on good ground, and he has drawn well in the Cameron.

“He has trained on well since Goulburn.

“Obviously it’s a stronger race, but Ruby Flyer comes in on the limit (54kg), and I’m expecting him to run well.”

Widdup ran dual Group 3 winner Phearson when ninth to subsequent Group 1 winner Briasa in last November’s $1m The Hunter (1300m) at Newcastle.

Ruby Flyer this afternoon was a $23 chance with TAB.com.au, with Briasa’s Team Hawkes’ Swiftfalcon the $3.90 favorite in an open affair.

Widdup also is looking forward to resuming Jedibeel (Kerrin McEvoy) in Saturday’s keenly awaited $1m Group 2 The Shorts (1100m) at Royal Randwick.

Eight-times winner Jedibeel, who is on the verge of becoming a “millionaire” (his earnings currently stand at $917,650), is the forgotten horse of the race at $16 with TAB.com.au.

The Savabeel six-year-old is a first-up specialist (three wins and two seconds from five starts), and his Randwick record stands at two wins and two seconds from six starts.

Jedibeel resumed last preparation and showed a blazing turn of foot to land the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) at weight-for-age at Randwick in March.

“He had a little setback which forced us to miss the Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Randwick a fortnight ago,” Widdup said.

“But he has recovered and I’m really happy with him.”

Newcastle’s unbeaten four-year-old Private Harry, having his first start at Randwick as he seeks his sixth straight victory, dominates The Shorts market at $2.10.

Story John Curtis, September 18, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos