EMBLA DOUBLE GIVES BRAD FOUR-WIN STREAK
THURSDAY: October 12, 2023: FOUR winners in three days!
Hawkesbury’s premier trainer Brad Widdup is indeed on a roll.
Brad followed up victories with Hasty Honey at Newcastle on Tuesday and Fire Lane at Warwick Farm yesterday by snaring a Kembla Grange double today.
He won with Souttar (Heavelon Van Der Hoven, 3YO Maiden Handicap, 1000m) and Owari (Tyler Schiller, Provincial Class 1 Handicap, 1600m).
The foursome lifted him to 14 wins for the season, and a career 310.
“A great week for our owners and also our staff who work hard,” Brad said this evening.
“Success like this doesn’t come along every week, but obviously it’s nice when it does.”
Souttar, a three-year-old son of I Am Invincible and named after the Socceroos Harry Souttar, was well supported to start at $4.60 and overpowered his rivals at only his third start and first since being gelded.
“He showed some ability in his two-year-old season, but being a big heavy horse had to be gelded,” Brad said.
“It was pleasing to see him finish off in the manner he did today, and no doubt will be better suited beyond 1000m.
“When they handle a genuine tempo and hit the line so strongly, it’s a good sign that he is up to midweek or even Saturday company in town.”
Fire Lane’s owners Brad Hunt’s BK Racing & Breeding and racing manager Ben Vassallo also have Souttar, who fetched $450,000 at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter yearling sale.
His dam, the Fastnet Rock mare Unassailed, won two – including a 3YO Benchmark 64 Handicap (1600m) on heavy ground at The Valley in 2015 – of her only six starts.
Owari ($4.40) sat outside the leader Grenoble, and was strong to the line to comfortably clinch his second career win at his 11th start, and he has also been placed on five occasions.
The Astern four-year-old is raced by Pip Cooper, who has had a number of horses with Widdup and bred the gelding from her now retired Fuji Kiseki mare Fuji Fairy.
“I feel 1600m is as far as Owari wants to go,” Brad said.
“He has been tried out over further ground and, though he performed okay, the 1600m appears as though that is his limit.”
. Brad won’t be able to add to this week’s record tomorrow as he doesn’t have a runner anywhere, but is looking forward to starting Ausbred Flirt (Craig Williams) in the $250,000 Group 3 Angst Stakes (1600m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.