OCTOBER 8, 2024: HAT-TRICK seeker Tenbury Wells will have a new rider when he steps out in Saturday’s Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill Gardens.
Leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup has booked Tyler Schiller for the lightly-raced colt in the $500,000 feature for three-year-olds at set weights.
Alysha Collett has ridden Tenbury Wells in two recent impressive wins at Kembla Grange over 1600m and 2000m on September 14 and 28.
Thrice Group 1 winning jockey Schiller has never ridden the colt, who has burst into spring reckoning with his latest victories.
Brad is pleased with Tenbury Wells’ progress since his trouncing of a Class 1/Maiden Plate (2000m) field on September 28.
“Obviously he is moving up stakes to company at set weights, but is heading in the right direction,” he said today.
“Tenbury Wells’ performance in the Gloaming will help us decide whether he goes on to the Spring Champion Stakes or heads to Melbourne for the Victoria Derby.”
Both carry Group 1 status. The $2m Spring Champion (2000m) will be run at Royal Randwick on October 26, and the Derby (2500m), which has the same purse, is a week later at Flemington on the opening day of the Melbourne Cup carnival.
Brad also is considering a Spring Champion start for his improving filly Noises, who followed two wins on her home track on August 22 (1500m) and September 7 (1800m) with a gutsy second to Mountain Top in a Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m) at Warwick Farm yesterday.
The three-year-old daughter of Microphone pulled up well from her Warwick Farm assignment.
“Noises will either go to the Spring Champion or the Ethereal Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield against her own age on Saturday week,” Brad said.
“Provided she continues to race well, the Group 1 Victoria Oaks (2500m) at Flemington on November 7 is definitely a possibility.”
Brad nominated dual Group 3 winner Phearson for both Rosehill Gardens and Caulfield races on Saturday.
However, the $1.5m Alan Brown Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill is his preference.
Phearson is currently 18th in order of entry (16 can start with provision for four emergencies) prior to acceptances being taken on Wednesday morning.
“The Listed Weekend Hussler Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield is a back-up plan in case we don’t get a start at Rosehill,” Brad said.
Ausbred Flirt has pulled up well after her Epsom Handicap (1600m) run at Randwick last Saturday, and will go next to the same course and distance but against her own sex in the Group 3 Angst Stakes on Saturday week.
“Ausbred Flirt raced closer to the speed than usual in the Epsom, and was disappointing,” Brad said.
“But it was only her second run back, and taking on such seasoned horses in a feature Randwick ‘mile’ will have been good experience for her.
“I had hoped to get her into The Invitation (1400m) against her own sex at Randwick on October 26, but she needed to win the Tibbie Stakes (1400m) first-up at Newcastle last month and unfortunately wasn’t suited by the lack of pace when fifth.”
. The Widdup Racing team was thrilled with the performances of two of their staff at last weekend’s Equimillions in Sydney.
Jessica Galea won her jumping section on March Eight, and Poppie Gorton was second on Done N Dusted in her eventing section which covered three disclipines (dressage, jumping and cross country).
March Eight, a well-named daughter of Russian Revolution (March 8, 1917 saw a period of political and social change in Russia), was retired from racing after being unplaced at her three starts.
She is a midget standing around only 14.3 hands, and Brad joked “at least I can train mini jumpers”.
Jessica was sponsored by Widdup Racing, and Poppie by Hawkesbury Race Club.