MAY 29, 2024: THEY’RE not old enough yet to race a horse, but two young racing fans have a special interest in a promising filly who has a “real” chance of winning at Hawkesbury on Thursday.
Lightly-raced three-year-old Be Real lines up in the Pinnacle Office Supplies Class 1/Maiden Plate (1800m), with Tyler Schiller again in the saddle.
Leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup’s wife Milissa manages the “Hunter W and Max FC” syndicate, which acknowledges their son Hunter and New Zealander Max Fraser-Campin’s growing interest in the industry.
“Hunter and Max are both heavily invested in racing,” Brad said on Wednesday morning.
“Max’s father Mark, who is a close family friend, bred this filly.”
Mark Fraser-Campin also bred Brad’s smart mare Short Shorts, along with Be Real’s older full brother and recent metropolitan winner Sir Ravanelli (from the Ishiguru mare Stardom), prepared at Tuncurry by Terry Evans.
Ironically, whereas Sir Ravanelli is a sprinter, Brad always knew Be Real would be the opposite.
“She showed no speed at all early, and it was obvious middle-distance racing would be her go,” he said.
“Whilst Be Real didn’t win any of her first three starts (though was placed over 1400m at Kembla Grange on heavy ground in late December), I wasn’t disappointed at all with her and, after a break she has come back really well.”
Brad had hoped to have the filly ready for Saturday week’s Group 1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm, but time beat him.
Nonetheless, she followed an impressive Newcastle Maiden Handicap (1600m) victory on May 9 with a strong finishing close third in a midweek Benchmark 68 Handicap (1600m) at Warwick Farm 13 days later.
Be Real settled a clear last and her chances looked forlorn, but such was her burst at the end that she would have won had the race been much further.
“Early on I thought she was going to finish a bad last,” Brad said.
“I haven’t done a lot with her since, but she is in good order.
“Be Real has drawn a bit awkwardly in a field of 10, and hopefully she can at least stay in the field this time, and the long run home will suit her.
“There is always time to go back to town provided she races well tomorrow, and I’m confident she will.”
Brad also runs another lightly-raced three-year-old filly She’s All It (Alysha Collett) in the Pitt Town Bottleshop Provincial Maiden Handicap (1100m).
A $12,500 Gold Coast yearling buy, the daughter of Starspangledbanner has been placed at three of her four starts.
“She’s All It is a bit quirky but racing consistently, and wasn’t far away when fifth at home a fortnight ago in an open 3YO Maiden over the same distance,” Brad said.