WIDDUP’S GROUP 1 AND PMC TILTS

BRAD Widdup will have both another Group 1 crack at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, and attempt to qualify his first runner for the Provincial-Midway Championships Final.

The leading Hawkesbury trainer’s flag-bearer Jedibeel will contest the $1m Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m), whilst stablemate Hyperbolic will chase a PMC Final spot in the fifth Qualifier (1400m) at Kembla Grange.

Whilst Widdup missed out on the Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m) at Rosehill yesterday with $4.20 favorite Savvy Hallie (who will go for a spell in great order), it was still a successful day with two winners (Audrey’s Lane at Rosehill and Olivia Twist at Gosford), following on from Sneaky’s Choice’s victory at Kembla Grange a day earlier.

The three winners boosted his season’s tally to 39.

Widdup chose to bypass yesterday’s Group 3 Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill with eight-times winner Jedibeel, who would have carried 59kg topweight.

“If Jedibeel gets enough weight in The Galaxy, Tommy Berry will ride him,” Widdup said today.

“Otherwise Alysha Collett will take the mount.

“Jedibeel has trained well since arriving home from Melbourne after his excellent first-up fourth from a wide draw in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 21.”

Widdup may also run recent Flemington Inglis Sprint runner-up Nashville Jack in the Listed Darby Munro Stakes (1200m) at Saturday’s Rosehill fixture.

He has held Gosford’s Queen of the Turf Stakes runner-up Hyperbolic back for Saturday’s PMC Qualifier (1400m) – for eligible provincial horses only – and she is ready to resume after two trials; the latest over 1030m at Rosehill last Tuesday.

“Hyperbolic is going really well, and it’s only three weeks to the Final if she qualifies on Saturday,” he said.

Widdup has another string to his PMC bow with yesterday’s first-up Rosehill winner Audrey’s Lane ($5), who led throughout in the Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap (1200m) under Alysha Collett to defeat fellow Hawkesbury trainer Marc Chevalier’s consistent mare Everyone’s A Star ($10).

“I was surprised she led as this was the first occasion I had started her at 1200m,” he said.

“But I wanted Alysha to be positive on her to ensure she had a good hit-out.

“Audrey’s Lane will go to the sixth Qualifier (1350m) at Wyong on Saturday week.

“I did nominate her for the Gosford Qualifier (1200m) yesterday, but wasn’t sure the tight track would suit her, and Rosehill turned out well anyway.”

Widdup was pleased to get a breakthrough for major client Mike Gregg’s Mulberry Racing with Olivia Twist at Gosford yesterday.

The Farnan filly was having her fifth start after one placing, and went to the post as a $3 chance for the Midway 3YO & Up Maiden Handicap (1200m).

Ridden by Christian Reith, Olivia Twist defeated Mayleigh ($10) and Wyong trainer Tracey Bartley’s Sunset Belle ($26).

“There’s a Class 1 Handicap coming up, so I might give Olivia Twist another run if she does well,” Widdup said.

“Otherwise she will have a break.”

Widdup is uncertain whether to do the same with Sneaky Choice, who made it two wins on end at last Friday’s Kembla Grange Classic meeting.

With Tommy Berry aboard, she did a good job to take the Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m) as a $2.70 favorite.

“Sneaky Choice is a real trier, and I’m sure she is eventually going to get even further,” Widdup said.

. Fellow Hawkesbury trainer Terry Croft was in the winner’s circle at Dubbo today with debutante I’m A Beaut (Chad Lever).

The $2.30 favorite romped home by four lengths in the 2YO Handicap (1100m), guaranteeing a start in the $200,000 Wellington Boot (1100m) on April 12.

Croft paid $12,000 for the daughter of Exceedance at last year’s Inglis HTBA yearling sale in Sydney.

The filly had been placed in both trials at Hawkesbury (February 24) and Warwick Farm (March 5) leading up to today’s debut.

STORY JOHN CURTIS, MARCH 15, 2026