THURSDAY: April 25, 2024: BRAD Widdup wasn’t thinking Jedibeel would be a specialist short-course sprinter when he purchased him as a yearling on behalf of a client.
Given the now four-year-old’s breeding, it’s understandable why he felt that way.
Not that he is complaining whatsoever.
Now four-year-old Jedibeel, heavily backed to start a $1.70 favorite, returned as a gelding to take the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1000m) on the Kensington track today.
Posting his fourth victory from only 10 starts, Jedibeel defeated Storm The Ramparts ($8.50) and Martial Music ($3.40), who had made the running.
It was the leading Hawkesbury trainer’s 48th winner of the season, and he was thankful Doncaster Mile winning rider Tyler Schiller had the mount.
“Jedibeel has an electric turn of foot, but is inclined to idle off when he hits the front,” Brad said.
“I’m glad Tyler was on him today as he has ridden him at his last five starts.
“Jedibeel probably cost himself a couple of wins before, hence the reason we decided to geld him.”
The talented son of 2004 Cox Plate winner Savabeel and the unraced O’Reilly mare Starry was the only yearling Brad bought at the 2021 Inglis Classic sale.
He went a bit above his budget to get him for $190,000 on behalf of owner Mike Gregg, who races Jedibeel in the bumble bee colours of his University Cricket Club in Sydney.
“When I bought him, I thought he would run a bit further on his breeding, but he’s purely a sprinter, and a pretty handy one,” Brad said.
“He’ll have to go to Saturday grade now.”