SANDBAR NOW FOR STARLIGHT STAKES
MONDAY: November 18, 2019: BRAD Widdup is now refocusing with Sandbar on the $140,000 Listed Starlight Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday week.
Hawkesbury’s leading trainer understandably was disappointed his smart sprinter did not gain a start in last Saturday’s inaugural $1m The Hunter (1300m) at Newcastle.
Sandbar was second emergency for the rich sprint, and needed only one more withdrawal to make the field.
The Snitzel four-year-old, who has won four of his 13 starts, carried 60kg in a gutsy performance to edge out stablemate Junglized in a Benchmark 88 Handicap over the Starlight course at Rosehill on November 2.
The victory lifted his prizemoney earnings to $436,720 and nearly $500,000 with bonuses.
Widdup has nominated Fortnite and Trengganu (1100m Maiden Plate), Primal Scream (1300m Provincial & Country Maiden Plate), and Trieste (1600m Maiden Plate) at Thursday’s Hawkesbury meeting.
Fastnet Rock filly Trieste almost made a winning debut at Newcastle on November 2, going under narrowly to Tombstone in a 1500m Maiden Handicap.