WIDDUP’S “CUT” ABOVE AVERAGE WINNING PERFORMANCER WITH DEBUTANTE

BRAD Widdup’s 10^th winner of the month at Newcastle today was indeed a “cut” above average.

The leading Hawkesbury trainer had won a Group 2 Matriarch Stakes (Sunset Park) at the Flemington carnival along with a number of Sydney victories in November, including Hyperbolic at Rosehill Gardens yesterday.

But winning with a five-year-old mare having her first start, and who had been out of the stable for nearly two years, was something special.

The unusually named Like A Surgeon at $19 gave her rivals a start and a beating in the Provincial Maiden Handicap (900m).

Like A Surgeon settled a clear last before jockey Christian Reith eased her toward the outside on straightening as she began to make ground.

Finishing as though it was anything but her first time at the races, she surged home ahead of Kembla Grange trainers Mitch Beer and George Carpenter’s Uncle Barry ($6.50) and Newcastle trainer Barry Lawrence’s $71 roughie Love You Anyway.

Like A Surgeon, raced by her breeder Ralph Tierney, is the first foal of the Canny Lad mare Nunya Bizz, who passed away in August.

Widdup’s assistant trainer Rosie Jilla this evening related how Like A Surgeon first came to their Hawkesbury stables – and then disappeared.

“Like A Surgeon trialled twice with us a late two-year-old in May and July 2023, and then again later on November 16 that year,” Ms Jilla said.

“She showed some ability but went shin sore and left the stables.

“When she was out for so long, we didn’t think she was coming back at all.”

However, the mare’s owner decided to send her back to Widdup quite some months ago for another preparation – and it was worth it.

“We took our time with Like A Surgeon and Brad gave her two nice trials (at Kembla Grange on November 5 and Hawkesbury 12 days later),” Ms Jilla said.

“She won her latest trial, and Brad knew she was ready to go the races.”

Like A Surgeon’s three-year-old half-sister Mind Ya Bizz (by Heroic Valour) is also with Widdup, and trialled at home on November 17 following a spell after finishing second on debut to fellow Hawkesbury trainer Blake Ryan’s Just Awesome at Gosford in June.

In giving Widdup his 10^th November winner, Like A Surgeon also was the trainer’s 25^th winner of the season.

Along with Like A Surgeon, Widdup also had two seconds – Tequisoda ($3.10 favorite) and Tenbury Wells ($3.70 co-favorite) – at Newcastle, and the former came off the back off a fruitless trip to Kembla Grange yesterday.

Tequisoda was to have started there, but the meeting was called off after one race had been run because of power outages.

“Tequisoda was fine this morning, and the decision was made to go to Newcastle,” Ms Jilla said.

“There were no other suitable races for him in the near future.”

Widdup had also been successful at Rosehill yesterday with Hyperbolic ($7) in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m).

Ridden by Tommy Berry, Hyperbolic always travelled like a winner and scored convincingly, posting her fourth win (and first in town) at her 12^th start.

Widdup purchased the four-year-old daughter of Proisir for $240,000 at the 2023 NZ Bloodstock yearling sale at Karaka on behalf of Mike Gregg’s Mulberry Racing.

Kembla Grange co-trainers Mitch Beer and George Carpenter also celebrated a city winner at Rosehill with former Victorian mare Geemes (Alysha Collett) at $6.50).

The four-year-old daughter of Grunt finished strongly to take the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (2000m) from Blake Ryan’s gallant Strawberry Impact ($4.20 favorite).

Geemes was purchased online for $35,000 in May after being unplaced in the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas (1800m) at Morphettville the previous month.

She ran sixth at Moruya at her first start for Beer, and is now unbeaten from three starts for the Beer-Carpenter combination.

Gosford trainer Jake Hull followed his brilliant victory with Rathoran at Wyong last Wednesday by clinching another first-up winning performance, this time with Lord Vettori at Grafton today.

Ridden by Matt McGuren, the $2.90 joint favorite easily defeated the other favorite, Newcastle trainer Kris Lees’ Thursain, in the Maiden Plate (1115m).

Lord Vettori, a Rubick four-year-old, had been placed at five of his first seven starts, and was having his first outing since early June.

Hull prepared him for a first-up tilt with two placings in provincial trials, and won his fifth race at Grafton.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, NOVEMBER 30, 2025 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS