WIDDUP’S TWO ROWLEY MILE HOPES

BRAD Widdup will officially be recognised on Thursday as leading trainer at Hawkesbury for the season just gone.

And whilst the second event has been named after him (Champion Trainer Brad Widdup Provincial Maiden Handicap, 1500m), the race he really wants to win is the Listed Pioneer Services Rowley Mile at his home track.

Widdup has never previously had a runner in the $200,000 feature, one of Hawkesbury’s historic races which was first run in 1881 – but will have two representatives.

He will saddle Ruby Flyer (Dylan Gibbons) and Hasty Honey (Rachel King).

Widdup is taking on the might of the Chris Waller stable as Sydney’s champion trainer has eight acceptors in the field of 14, seeking to take the ‘Mile” for the seventh time.

But he considers both his horses have genuine chances.

Hasty Honey was withdrawn from a 1900m Rosehill Gardens engagement last Saturday to have a crack at the Rowley Mile, whilst Ruby Flyer ran third in the 2023 edition when prepared by fellow Hawkesbury trainer Jason Attard.

In an open market, TAB.com.au on Tuesday afternoon installed Hasty Honey as a $6.50 third favorite, and Ruby Flyer at $19.

“Hasty Honey is going well, and has drawn the rails,” Widdup said this evening.

“More than half the field is resuming, and she has fitness on her side after four runs (for twins) this time in work.

“Hasty Honey deserves her chances to gain some black type.

“You have to forget Ruby Flyer’s last run at Randwick, and he has since had a tick-over trial at Warwick Farm.

“Any further rain would certainly enhance his prospects.

“Four of his six wins have been at 1600m, and Dylan (Gibbons) rode him in one of those when he was impressive on a heavy track at Randwick in June last year.”

Waller first won the Rowley Mile in 2010 with Snow Alert, and has won three of the last five runnings with Savacool (2020), Skyman (2022) and Bold Mac (2023).

In early TAB assessments, River Of Stars at $7.50 is the highest rated of his bevy of runners.

The UK import, raced by Yu Long Investments, has raced twice in Australia and finished third to Arapaho in the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m) at Randwick in April at her latest assignment.

James McDonald has partnered River Of Stars in two recent Randwick trials, and has the mount on Thursday.

McDonald is no stranger to Rowley Mile success either, having won on Waller’s Mister Sea Wolf in 2018 and Skyman four years later.

Tim Clark, who rides last year’s Group 1 South Australian Derby winner Coco Sun for father and son Tony and Calvin McEvoy, also has won the Rowley Mile twice, on Arbeitsam (2017) and Gaulois (2019).

Tony McEvoy, when training solo and had a satellite stable at Hawkesbury, is chasing his third win in the Mile, and first with his son.

He was successful in consecutive years with Mouro (2013) and Mr Chard the following year.

. The rail is in the TRUE position for the eight-race program, which begins at 12.45pm. The Rowley Mile is race 7 at 4.25pm.

The last five Rowley Mile winners were:

2020 SAVACOOL (C. Waller/T. Berry)

2021 BERDIBEK (J. O’Shea/B. Avdulla)

2022 SKYMAN (C. Waller/J. McDonald)

2023 BOLD MAC (C. Waller/K. McEvoy)

2024 CEPHEUS (M. Dunn/N. Rawiller)

 Story John Curtis, August 19, 2025 - Pics Bradley Photos