SUNDAY: May 30, 2021: BRAD Widdup has already secured black type placings with yesterday’s Royal Randwick winner Adelong.
Now his goal is to win a black type race with her – and it could come at the same track on Saturday week.
Brad made it 28 victories for the season and his talented mare Adelong in the process boosted her impressive record to seven wins from 16 starts when she landed yesterday’s At Sea Handicap (1100m).
Hawkesbury’s leading trainer was on the Gold Coast this morning inspecting yearlings for this week’s Magic Millions National Sale, and outlined plans to take Adelong back to the same course and distance for the $150,000 Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes (formerly June Stakes).
“It looks the logical next step for her,” Brad said.
“She has been placed twice at that level this month over the same distance in the Hawkesbury XXXX Gold Rush at the stand-alone meeting and Ortensia Stakes at Rosehill Gardens.
“A black type victory would certainly boost her value as a potential broodmare when she retires from racing.”
Brad praised Jay Ford’s ride on the five-year-old daughter of Medaglia D’Oro, who started at double figure odds ($12) in spite of her recent placings, and defeated another mare Wandabaa ($4.80) and $2.35 favorite Marway.
“Jay rode her for the first time a fortnight ago in the Ortensia,” he said. “He kept her in touch with the favorite yesterday, and presented her at the right time to win the race.”
Brad has done a splendid job with Adelong, who lifted her earnings to nearly $334,000. Nice work considering co-owner Michael Coleman purchased her as an unraced three-year-old for only $10,175 online through Bloodstock.auction.com two years ago.
He fielded a call from Coleman one evening asking if he would train her, and had immediate results as Adelong won her first three starts at Wyong, Kembla Grange and Randwick.
But early on he wasn’t thinking she could have built a record such as the one she now possesses.
“Adelong at first was only average galloping on her own,” Brad said.
“But it was a different story altogether when I worked her with a mate. I knew then she had plenty of ability.”
Adelong underwent tie back surgery after her last campaign, and has continued to improve with each run this preparation.
“I didn’t want to start her over 1200m first-up in the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes at Randwick during The Championships, but I had to get her going,” Brad explained.
“As it was, she ran well as she led and was on the inferior inside part of the straight that day before finishing ninth (just over three lengths behind winner Fasika).
“Adelong’s two subsequent runs in the Hawkesbury Rush and Ortensia Stakes were good, and everything fell into place for her yesterday.”
. Adelong was Brad’s 166th career winner, and helped add to easily his best season in terms of prizemoney (nearly $3.4m), with Golden Eagle and Doncaster Mile runner-up Icebath a major contributor.