By John Schell
Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup has high hopes that his stable can snare a couple of early winners when he sends some leading contenders to Tuesday’s Newcastle meeting.
Widdup, who produced Calyx Rose to break her maiden at Sunday’s Cowra Cup meeting, will kick off the day at Newcastle when Sunset Park makes her debut in The Advisor Collective Provincial 4YO&Up Maiden Plate (1300m).
Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup.Credit: Getty
“She’s a well-bred mare by Sea The Stars that has taken a little time,” said Widdup.
“She had a couple of trials back in July then was put away, and she has had another two recent trials leading into the Newcastle race. She won the latest of them at Warwick Farm when Tyler Schiller was on her. Tyler’s been on her in three of the four trials, and he sticks with her at Newcastle. He knows her well which is good.
“She’s drawn a good barrier, and it looks a nice race for her to start things off in.”
Widdup is looking forward to seeing Akaka Falls resume from a spell in the NZB Karaka 99th Yearling Sale Benchmark 64 Handicap (900m) with apprentice Mitch Stapleford taking the ride.
Akaka Falls was allotted 63 kilograms but drops to 60kgs with the benefit of Stapleford’s claim.
“It’s a big weight to contend with, but he has a great record,” Widdup said of Akaka Falls.
“He’s drawn barrier one which is in his favour. He goes great first-up from a spell, races well at Newcastle, and has great wet track form if that’s what we end up having to race on.”
Widdup has three-year-old first starter Don’tcallmekathy, a filly by D’Argento lining up in the Allied The Careful Movers Super Maiden Plate (1200m) with Zac Wadick aboard.
“She’s had a couple of trials and the latest of them was pretty solid,” said Widdup.
“She gets in with a light weight after Zac’s claim and hopefully she can run a nice race.”
Widdup also has Bella Khadijah in the A-Plus Contracting & Poly Welding Benchmark 64 Handicap (1400m) with Schiller booked to ride from an outside gate.
Panya recovering from Moruya fall
Beany Panya is on the mend after spinal surgery, while Blake Spriggs remains in a stable condition following their race fall at Moruya last Friday. Panya’s twin sister, Deanne Panya, provided an update, writing Beany had four screws and two rods inserted in an operation on her fractured T6 and T7 vertebrae on Sunday. “Bruised and banged up, but she is doing well considering everything,” Deanne posted on Facebook. “Movement in all of her limbs and her cognitive tests are looking great.” Spriggs had a head injury, broken ribs and collarbone as well as internal bleeding from a punctured lung.
Craig Kerry
Via Sistina makes promising trial return
Cox Plate champion Via Sistina showed she was keen to get on with it in her first trial back at Warwick Farm yesterday. The Chris Waller-trained seven-year-old, a winner of four group 1s last spring, was restrained to sit fifth in the seven-horse hit-out over 900 metres. She then closed off well for third behind stablemates Declichy Boulevard and Lady Shenandoah under a tight hold from Damian Lane, who took over from James McDonald. McDonald was to ride Via Sistina in a trial last Thursday but it was washed out. He rode Voyage Bubble to back-to-back group 1 Stewards’ Cup wins at Sha Tin on Sunday.
Craig Kerry
Supplied by Racing NSW
Full form and race replays available at racingnsw.com.au
