WEDNESDAY: April 9, 2025: PROVINCIAL-MIDWAY Championships Final trainer Brad Widdup tuned up for Saturday’s $1m feature with a home track victory today.
Hawkesbury’s leading trainer took The Lawn Shed Benchmark 64 Handicap (1100m) with Tequila Baby ($8), giving him his 51st winner of the season.
Brad will be represented by Money Team (Craig Williams) in Saturday’s PMC Final (1400m) at Royal Randwick on Day 2 of The Championships.
Lightly-raced Capitalist three-year-old filly Tequila Baby was resuming – and did it in style.
She began quickly, sat outside the leader Iowna Benz ($9) and then took charge in the straight and surged clear to easily defeat $2.20 favorite Couples Retreat.
“I was especially pleased for our apprentice Zac Wadick, who hasn’t had the best of luck in the last few weeks (his previous winner was Money Team in a PMC Qualifier on March 15),” Brad said this evening.
“Zac rode this filly confidently, and I’m sure it will give him a good boost.”
A $210,000 weanling purchase in 2022, Tequila Baby was subsequently passed in at $250,000 at the Inglis Classic yearling sale the following year.
“I’ve always liked her,” Brad said.
“I took her to the country for a couple of those $50,000 Super Maidens last year.
“She ran second at Port Macquarie in October and then won at Gundagai in November.
“I put blinkers on her for the Gundagai race, and I’m sure it has made a difference as she has now won two in a row.”
Brad understandably was disappointed when Money Team drew the outside barrier and will jump from 15 in Saturday’s Final.
Money Team is unbeaten from four starts since joining the leading Hawkesbury trainer’s stable, and had a tick-over 1050m trial at Randwick on March 28 (won by last Saturday’s Day 1 The Championships winner Evaporate).
“We’re going to need a great ride by Craig from out there, and plenty of luck as well,” Brad said.
. Talented two-year-old Savvy Hallie (Jay Ford) also will represent the stable at Randwick on Saturday in the $1m Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) for fillies.