AUGUST 22, 2024: IT’S not often a trainer gets the chance to win a race named after them.
So there was extra joy for Hawkesbury’s leading trainer Brad Widdup when at his home track on Thursday he continued his brilliant start to the new season.
Brad won the Congratulations Brad Widdup Provincial Maiden Handicap (1500m) with Noises ($5.50); his ninth success in the first 22 days of the 2024-25 racing year.
Presentations were made at the meeting to last season’s various premiership winners, including Brad, who trained nine winners (and 61 overall) at Hawkesbury in 2023-24.
Ridden by stable apprentice Zac Wadick and having only her second start this campaign, Noises led home an all-local result.
She defeated Edward Cummings’ Torie’s Rose ($3.80 favorite) and Terry Croft’s Suay Mam’selle ($9).
Brad prepares Noises for long-time client, Brad Hunt’s B K Racing & Breeding Pty Ltd, and their racing manager Ben Vassallo.
The daughter of 2019 Royal Randwick Group 1 Sires Produce winner Microphone is the first foal of the Japanese mare Beetobee.
She raced seven times in Australia for a Moonee Valley 1600m win in November 2018, and four placings.
Noises fetched $375,000 at the Magic Millions yearling sale at the Gold Coast last year, whilst her dam has since foaled both a colt and filly by Snitzel.
Brad hasn’t pushed Noises, and gave her only one start as a two-year-old when unplaced at Wyong over 1350m in March after racing up on the speed.
She resumed at the same track on August 4 when runner-up to Kervette in a 1350m Provincial Maiden.
“Noises did a really good job today after racing outside the leader,” Brad said on Thursday evening.
“She can only get better.”
Whilst his apprentice Zac Wadick clinched his 122nd career winner on Noises, he hit the deck in the following race on stablemate and debutante Pro Velocity.
RacingNSW stewards reported Pro Velocity attempted to buck soon after the start, resulting in her rider becoming unbalanced and ultimately being dislodged.
Though Wadick did not appear to display any concussion symptoms, stewards stood him down from later engagements as his head hit the ground.
His master later said he was fine, and expects him to ride at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Brad has both Fun Sunday and Phearson engaged at the Randwick meeting, but also intends nominating the former for a Benchmark 64 Handicap (2200m) at Newcastle on Thursday.
Dual Group 3 winner Phearson (Josh Parr) resumes in the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) after trialling at Randwick last Monday.