THURSDAY: September 29, 2022: BRAD Widdup was relieved to be in the winning list at home today; his third victory in the past five days.
Hawkesbury’s leading trainer ended a run of bad luck for Phearson’s connections by landing the Canadian Club Soda & Lime 4YO&Up Maiden Plate (1300m) with the lightly-raced five-year-old.
Willie Pike, now settled in Sydney, was aboard Phearson as Brad claimed his 11th winner of the new racing season.
A $1.70 hotpot, Phearson put his first four minor placings aside to down his opposition, clearing out at the end to score by nearly three lengths.
But not before he played up before being brought into the enclosure.
“Both his runs for me have now been at Hawkesbury, and I might have to take him away to another next track next time,” Brad said this evening.
“There’s no doubt he has ability, and he has never run a bad race.
“I’m pleased he was able to put a win on the board for his owners, who have had to be very patient.”
A $65,000 yearling purchase, Phearson was placed at his first three starts at Canberra before arriving at Brad’s Hawkesbury stable.
The gelding had not raced for over a year when he won a Randwick trial in April, then became cast after returning to the tie-up stalls.
As a result, Brad had to put the Exosphere five-year-old’s resumption on hold until three weeks ago when he ran second to Newcastle filly Yankee Hussel in a 1300m Provincial Maiden at Hawkesbury.
Phearson was Brad’s third winner in the past five days (following Sky Ace at Bathurst last Sunday and The Poacher at Rosehill Gardens yesterday) as he prepares to saddle Epsom Handicap favorite Icebath in Saturday’s $1.5m feature at Royal Randwick.
The Epsom field was reduced to 11 today with the withdrawal of Character.