JANUARY 1, 2024: TREASURER banked a second win at Gosford yesterday – and left his rivals with a bellyache in the process! 

But not before he had overcome a serious stomach ailment himself to resurrect his racing career.

Leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup revealed the reason for Treasurer’s lengthy absence from the track – he hadn’t started since early March – after he led home an all-Hawkesbury finish in the Provincial Class 1 Handicap (1100m).

Ridden by stable apprentice Zac Wadick, Treasurer ($8) came from near last on the home turn to edge out Blake Ryan’s $1.80 favorite Lady Extreme, who was gallant in defeat after being forced to race wide throughout, and Garry Frazer’s Our Lady Stardust ($8.50).

“Treasurer must have had the problem for some time,” Brad said.

“I just wasn’t happy with him, but scans didn’t reveal anything.

“He went for a break, came back into work and I saw him one day lying on the ground in his stable.

“We spoke with another vet, who recommended a stomach scan which revealed the problem.

“Treasurer had an abscess in his stomach, and would have been in real strife if we hadn’t found it.

“He was treated orally with anti-biotics, and thankfully responded quickly.”

Brad paid $150,000 for Treasurer at the 2021 Inglis Classic yearling sale, and has always had a good opinion of the now Capitalist four-year-old.

He is the second foal of the Redoute’s Choice mare Malakiya, who raced only once in Victoria before being retired to start a breeding career. 

Treasurer’s only previous victory was in a 1200m Maiden Handicap at Kembla Grange 12 months ago when he beat subsequent metropolitan winners Victory Lane and Windshadow.

Brad wisely took advantage of Wadick’s 3kg claim to reduce the gelding’s weight to 54kg for his first-up assignment. The second and third placegetters both carried 57kg.

RacingNSW stewards reported Treasurer raced keenly in the middle stages, was held up rounding the home turn and then had some difficulty obtaining clear running entering the straight.

Once Wadick got him into the clear, he unleashed a strong burst which took him to a narrow success in a sign that, now that he has fully recovered, better things are to come.

Treasurer was Brad’s 21st win of the season, and the Hawkesbury training base’s 75th in the first five months of 2023-24.