THURSDAY: July 8, 2021: Brad Widdup continued his most successful season to date in terms of prizemoney with a Kembla Grange double today, with new season thoughts firmly in his mind.
Hawkesbury’s leading trainer made it 33 wins for the season when Authentic Jewel ($6.50) and debutante Sepoy Star ($4.20) both won, lifting his overall haul for 2020-21 to just over $3.63m.
And he was happy to report that three of his talented “girls” – city winners Icebath, Adelong and Vulpine – all are in work and progressing well.
“It’s good to have them back in the stable, and whilst it’s early days yet, they are coming along nicely,” Brad said.
“Icebath will probably trial toward the end of the month. I’d like to give her two trials before she resumes.”
In only his fourth full season of training, Brad has now won 171 races and his prizemoney tally is edging toward $9m.
Understandably, he was delighted to achieve maiden victories today with another pair of “girls”, Authentic Jewel and Sepoy Star, thus enhancing their future broodmare potential when racing days are over.
Authentic Jewel (Jay Ford) took the 2YO Maiden Handicap (1000m) at only her fourth start – and third for Brad.
She beat Girl Mania ($12) and Fox Fighter ($4.40), and has earned a break.
A $650,000 Magic Millions purchase at the Gold Coast last year, Authentic Jewel is raced by Brad Hunt’s BK Racing & Breeding and the owner’s racing manager Ben Vassallo.
“It is always terrific to win for BK Racing & Breeding,” Brad said. “They have stuck by me through thick and thin, and continue to be great supporters of our stable.
“This filly isn’t hard to train, but can be hard on herself in a race.
“I’ve been holding her up in races refraining from letting her run along, and I’m sure that we’ll be able to work her out better once she has a break and a couple of trials when she returns.”
Authentic Jewel, a daughter of crack stallion I Am Invincible, is the first foal of the unraced Fastnet Rock mare Gold And Diamonds.
Brad recently took over the training of three-year-old filly Sepoy Star (Regan Bayliss), who impressed in beating $3 favorite Insurgence and Sizzle Chic ($21) in the Maiden Plate (1200m).
She had beaten subsequent Hawkesbury winner Lake Kastoria in a 1000m Hawkesbury trial on June 15.
“I have never met Waratah Thoroughbreds’ Paul Fudge, but was pleased to receive a couple of horses from him (when Warwick Farm trainer David Pfieffer began a term on the outer in May),” Brad said.
“Sepoy Star is a really nice filly, and does everything right. She has further upside.”
The daughter of 2011 Golden Slipper Stakes winner Sepoy has an international pedigree. She is the fourth foal of the Argentine mare Stormy Publisher, who lost her previous foal, a colt also by Sepoy, who died after being born.