SUNDAY: June 12, 2022: BRAD Widdup climbed another mountain on his home track today.

Hawkesbury’s leading trainer clinched his 50th winner of the season when lightly-raced The Himalayas on resumption scored at only his third start.

It is the second time in only five full seasons that Brad has notched a half century – and it is already his best season in terms of prizemoney won by his horses.

He won 51 races in his first full season in 2017-18 when his horses earned $1.638m, and already this racing year his representatives have collected nearly $4.5m.

“It’s been a very pleasing season, especially when I was down to 30-odd horses in November and December,” Brad said this evening.

“I’ve got 53 boxes, and you always hope to win a least that number of races in a season.”

The Himalayas ($4.40) led home a Hawkesbury trifecta from Jason and Lucy Attard’s Sovereign Express ($7.50) and Garry Frazer’s Uno Artie ($9) in the Irresistible Pools Provincial & Country Maiden Handicap (1300m).

Having only his third start and resuming as a gelding, the Zoustar three-year-old overcame a wide run without cover to break through.

“The Himalayas needed to be gelded after his first two runs late last year, and both his trials at home were good,” Brad said.

“I would have been disappointed if he hadn’t run Top 3 today, and feel he will eventually get up to 1600m.”

Zhongli Thoroughbreds purchased The Himalayas, a son of Adelaide and Melbourne winner I’m A Flying Star, for $140,000 as a yearling in Adelaide in 2020, and kept him when he failed to reach his reserve later that year when offered at the Magic Millions 2YO’s In Training sale at the Gold Coast.

Brad is hoping to add to his half century when he saddles three runners at Warwick Farm tomorrow.

His runners are Outlook (Benchmark 78 Handicap, 2400m), Icecrusher (Benchmark 72 Handicap, 1400m for fillies and mares), and Brimstone (Benchmark 72 Handicap, 1400m for colts and geldings).

Willie Pike rides Outlook and Icecrusher, and Tim Clark has been booked for Brimstone.

The Himalayas’ rider Jean Van Overmeire has been in outstanding form at Hawkesbury, bagging eight winners at the last two meetings to take his season’s haul at the track to 10.

He rode a career best five at the previous meeting on May 31, and another three today, also scoring on Communist ($4.80) and Goulburn visitor Tudor Prince ($12).

SUNDAY: June 12, 2022: BRAD Widdup climbed another mountain on his home track today.

Hawkesbury’s leading trainer clinched his 50th winner of the season when lightly-raced The Himalayas on resumption scored at only his third start.

It is the second time in only five full seasons that Brad has notched a half century – and it is already his best season in terms of prizemoney won by his horses.

He won 51 races in his first full season in 2017-18 when his horses earned $1.638m, and already this racing year his representatives have collected nearly $4.5m.

“It’s been a very pleasing season, especially when I was down to 30-odd horses in November and December,” Brad said this evening.

“I’ve got 53 boxes, and you always hope to win a least that number of races in a season.”

The Himalayas ($4.40) led home a Hawkesbury trifecta from Jason and Lucy Attard’s Sovereign Express ($7.50) and Garry Frazer’s Uno Artie ($9) in the Irresistible Pools Provincial & Country Maiden Handicap (1300m).

Having only his third start and resuming as a gelding, the Zoustar three-year-old overcame a wide run without cover to break through.

“The Himalayas needed to be gelded after his first two runs late last year, and both his trials at home were good,” Brad said.

“I would have been disappointed if he hadn’t run Top 3 today, and feel he will eventually get up to 1600m.”

Zhongli Thoroughbreds purchased The Himalayas, a son of Adelaide and Melbourne winner I’m A Flying Star, for $140,000 as a yearling in Adelaide in 2020, and kept him when he failed to reach his reserve later that year when offered at the Magic Millions 2YO’s In Training sale at the Gold Coast.

Brad is hoping to add to his half century when he saddles three runners at Warwick Farm tomorrow.

His runners are Outlook (Benchmark 78 Handicap, 2400m), Icecrusher (Benchmark 72 Handicap, 1400m for fillies and mares), and Brimstone (Benchmark 72 Handicap, 1400m for colts and geldings).

Willie Pike rides Outlook and Icecrusher, and Tim Clark has been booked for Brimstone.

The Himalayas’ rider Jean Van Overmeire has been in outstanding form at Hawkesbury, bagging eight winners at the last two meetings to take his season’s haul at the track to 10.

He rode a career best five at the previous meeting on May 31, and another three today, also scoring on Communist ($4.80) and Goulburn visitor Tudor Prince ($12).