WIDDUP NOT GIVING UP PREMIERSHIP EASILY

BRAD Widdup will take a trio of lightly-raced horses to his home track meeting tomorrow – and has named Mind Ya Bizz as the pick.

Hawkesbury’s leading trainer last season became the first local in many decades to beat all comers in the premiership, and isn’t giving up his title easily.

Widdup’s victory with Whoa Nellie at the previous Hawkesbury meeting on May 21 was his 11^th at home this season to edge him one ahead of Chris Waller.

He runs Mind Ya Bizz ($3.30 favorite with TAB.com.au this morning) in the Family Funday 19 July F&M Maiden Plate (1100m), Yeszem ($3.20, De Bortoli Wines Midway Maiden Handicap, 1400m), and Gandalf ($6.50, Elite Sand & Soil 5YO & Up Benchmark 64 Handicap, 1100m).

Tommy Berry rides Mind Ya Bizz, and Tyler Schiller partners both Yeszem and Gandalf.

Widdup’s Hawkesbury representatives have had a total of 14 starts between them, with Mind Ya Bizz the least raced with only four appearances.

She and Yeszem are three-year-old fillies, and ex-Godolphin Gandalf is a five-year-old gelding.

Mind Ya Bizz is a younger half-sister to unbeaten stablemate Like A Surgeon, whose first-up Wyong win last month was her second.

“Mind Ya Bizz has raced well at all four starts, including two provincial placings and a fourth at Canterbury in January at her only city start,” Widdup said this morning.

“With two nice trials for her resumption, she looks set for a good preparation.

“Mind Ya Bizz looks to be the best chance of my runners tomorrow.

“Yeszem has had only five starts, and was placed at Gosford and Kembla Grange at her first two runs back.

“We tried to win a country race with her last time at Parkes, but she didn’t finish off after leading.

“Being a Midway Maiden and at home, we’ll have another crack at getting a win with her.

“Gandalf hasn’t raced since mid-November, and I have given him only the one trial (second to Shaggy over 800m at Gosford on May 18).

“He is in good order, and rather than trial him again, I decided to resume him at home in a suitable race which is for five-year-olds and upwards.

“Gandalf did win at his first start for us over the same course in March last year.”

Newcastle trainer Jason Deamer has dual acceptors – both Dynamic Syndications horses - in the XXXX Gold Class 1 Handicap (1500m), but will run only one.

His representative will be Rose Water, and apprentice Siena Grima will claim 2kg, reducing the mare’s weight to 53kg (2kg below the limit).

Deamer also accepted with lightly-raced Microgravity, a last start runaway Port Macquarie winner on heavy ground.

However, he drew the outside in a field of eight, and instead will be nominated for Scone on Tuesday.

The eight-race program begins at 12 noon and concludes at 4.20pm.

. Hawkesbury course manager Digby Nuthall this morning posted an improving ‘Soft 7” rating. Only 1mm of rain was recorded in the 24 hours to 8am today, and a total of 12mm in the past seven days.

The rail is out varying distances; five metres from the 1100m to 450m, 3m from 450m to winning post, and is in the TRUE position for the remainder of the circuit.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, JUNE 3, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS