SUNDAY: December 11, 2022: HAWKESBURY’S leading trainer Brad Widdup clinched a Kembla Grange double yesterday as the stable prepares for a tilt at two feature provincial races this week.

Widdup’s victories with the talented Ausbred Flirt and Treasurer, who broke through for his first win, lifted his season tally to 27 – seven more than at the corresponding stage last year.

And he is hoping to continue the stable momentum by adding the $200,000 Maic Millions 2YO Classic (1100m) at Wyong on Wednesday with Hellbent filly Fire Lane, and Thursday’s $150,000 Sky Racing Summer Provincial Series Final (1600m) at home with either of his two representatives, Showtime Lady and Sonic Tycoon.

Fire Lane won the Max Lees Classic (900m) on debut at Newcastle on November 12, and stable foreman Andre Rabbett says she has trained on well since.

“It’s all systems go for Wyong; I can’t fault Fire Lane,” Rabbett said today.

“And our two runners in the Summer Provincial Final are both in good order.”

Maurice four-year-old Ausbred Flirt ($1.26 favorite) made it two on end at Kembla Grange when she again won handsomely, in a Conditional Benchmark 68 Handicap (1600m), and Treasurer clinched his first success, albeit by a whisker, in the Maiden Handicap (1200m).

Ausbred Flirt is clearly a young mare on rise, having dominated her last two races.

“We have always had a good opinion of her, and she was brilliant when coming from last to win on debut at Newcastle in August last year,” stable foreman Andre Rabbett said today.

“She has had some little niggling issues which have slowed her progress, but is now learning to race more tractably and the results are showing.

“We’ll see how she pulls up before Brad makes a decision where she races next.

“Treasurer was one of our first two-year-old runners last season and his first three starts were all in town.

“Now a three-year-old, he is a bit of a thinker and nearly cost himself the race yesterday when Bucko (Grant Buckley) gave him one around the tail.

“He didn’t like it, and Grant eased up on him and managed to get him over the line just ahead of the other horse ($26 runner-up Victory Lane).

“Hopefully getting his first win will help build his confidence.”