WHAT’S in a price?
Hawkesbury’s leading trainer Brad Widdup clinched a two-track double yesterday with three-year-old flllies who were at contrasting ends of the purchase scale.
Surprise Rosehill Gardens winner Art’s Alive ($51- above) fetched $350,000 at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter yearling sale, whilst Newcastle winner Calyx Rose ($5) cost only $4500 at the Inglis HTBA sale the following month.
Widdup’s double took his career tally to 395 as he bears down on a milestone 400, but wasn’t confident beforehand both horses could win.
“If you had told me yesterday morning I would get a double, I wouldn’t have believed it,” he said this morning.
“But both fillies have been racing well, and it was great to see them perform as they did.”
Art’s Alive, ridden by Jay Ford, after being held up for clear running for some distance in the straight, got out late to defeat Stagnum ($14) and $2.80 favorite Polyglot in the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill.
“She did really well in the circumstances, and I have to give credit to Tyler Schiller and BK Racing & Breeding’s racing manager Ben Vassallo,” Widdup said.
“Tyler rode her last time when fourth on the Kensington track, and said she could win a Saturday race.
“We also had Art’s Alive in at Canterbury the previous night, and Ben felt we should have a crack at the Saturday race.”
Widdup has done a splendid job with Art’s Alive, who won the first $100,000 Inglis Xtra Bonus in a Super Maiden at Coffs Harbour in early August last year.
“Whilst she jumped and wanted to run earlier in her career, we have been able to settle her and she now likes to settle just off the pace,” Widdup said.
“She is a daughter of Snitzel, and a pretty tough filly.”
Widdup was just as pleased to see Calyx Rose (Ronan Whelan) make it two in a row, in the Class 1 Handicap (1500m) at Newcastle.
“She came off breaking through in a Super Maiden (1350m) at Cowra on January 19, and whilst there were three other last start winners in the Newcastle race, they were also country winners,” he said.
“Her first two runs at the provincials were over 1200m and 1100m, and once we stepped her up in distance at Cowra and then again yesterday, she showed her ability.”
Wyong trainers Sara Ryan and Allan Kehoe also were winners yesterday, but on different tracks.
Ryan notched her 46th career winner (and ninth this season) when $5.50 chance Spicy Hotpot (Reece Jones) took the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1350m) at Rosehill, defeating Hawkesbury trainer Jack Pilkington’s Pretty Tavi ($8.50).
Kehoe followed his success with unbeaten two-year-old Shaddy in Queensland last week by scoring with Lease ($3.20 favorite) at Newcastle, in the Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap (1400m).
Kehoe is Lease’s seventh trainer, and he has worked out fresh is best with the gelding.
“He won his second start for me at Newcastle (also over 1400m) in August last year, and probably should have won his first three,” Kehoe said.
“He was placed at Gilgandra and Goulburn in the other two, and was unlucky both times.
“I don’t do much with him trackwork wise between runs, and he does a lot of swimming.
“It suits him to have five or six runs and then have six weeks off.”
Kehoe has returned Shaggy to his stable after a short break after his Queensland trip, and rode him work at Wyong yesterday morning.
“He felt great, and most likely we will head next to the Pierro Plate (1100m) at Randwick on Saturday week,” he said.
Story John Curtis, February 2, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos
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