MARCH 18, 2025: BRAD Widdup had reason for a double celebration at his home track today.
Hawkesbury’s leading trainer raised the bat for a half century of wins this season, and became the premiership front-runner in the process when online buy Gandalf scored on debut.
home track at Hawkesbury today.
Following on from Brad’s brilliant unbeaten run with former Victorian Money Team, a $55,000 online buy who has qualified for the $1m Provincial-Midway Championships Final, he was successful with another online purchase, this time for $25,000.
Ex-Godolphin four-year-old Gandalf (Tyler Schiller) landed the Brookvale Union Red Pub Soda Provincial Maiden Handicap (1100m) at his first start, downing another debutante, $2.50 favorite Sosueme.
A gelded son of Impending, Gandalf’s dam Wild Queen has a real Hawkesbury connection.
She won both the Listed Ladies Day Cup (1300m) and Group 3 Hawkesbury Cup (1600m) in 2005, and altogether 10 of her 21 starts for Gai Waterhouse AO.
Gandalf, named after the wizard from The Hobbitt and Lord of the Rings, is the last foal of the Loup Savage mare Wild Queen, who died in March 2022.
It was Brad’s wizardry which saw him pick up the gelding when he was put up for sale last December.
“Gandalf had cysts in both stifles, which is not uncommon,” he explained.
“Godolphin sent him bush for 12 months (it’s either that or surgery), and then he went shin sore as a four-year-old.
“I remembered seeing him trial at Hawkesbury last September and thought he trialled well enough, and was worth a gamble.”
Brad’s 50th winner of the season – he is well on track to top his benchmark 63 in 2021-22 – included his 10th at home, edging him one ahead of Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald in the race for local premiership honours.
Brad also is looking forward to running his Group 2 Challenge Stakes winner Jedibeel in Saturday’s $1m Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens.
“Jedibeel galloped at home this morning, and is in great order,” he said.