THURSDAY: November 28, 2019: BRAD Widdup took a phone call “out of the blue” some months back asking if he would train an unraced Medaglia D’Oro three-year-old filly.
Now a four-year-old mare and racing as Adelong, she made an impressive debut at Wyong today.
With Widdup’s brother-in-law Christian Reith aboard, Adelong was solidly supported on the strength of two recent good trials and started $1.90 favorite in the Provincial & Country Maiden Handicap (1100m) for four-year-olds and upwards.
After sharing the lead with second favorite Sea Hero ($3.80) to the home turn, Adelong had no trouble scoring by more than two lengths from her main rival.
Adelong was sold online in April through Bloodstockauction.com after 47 bids for $10,175 to owner Michael Coleman.
“Michael rang out of the blue asking me to train Adelong,” Widdup explained this evening.
“He has had a couple of horses with me, and I was happy to give her a try.
“She has an excellent pedigree being by Medaglia D’Oro out of a Redoute’s Choice mare (Snowgums).
“Adelong had not trialled when she came to us and hasn’t been straight forward, but our staff have done a great job with her and a lot of credit goes to Steve Taylor, who rides her in all her work.
“She galloped well the first time we asked her to run along on the track, and went to the races today on the back of two nice trials (winning over 905m at Rosehill Gardens on October 29 before a close second over 742m at Randwick on November 12).”
Adelong is the third foal of her dam Snowgums, who raced only five times and won at Kembla Grange in May, 2012 before being retired to stud. She died in August last year.
Adelong gave Widdup, Hawkesbury’s leading trainer, his 12th success of the season and he is looking forward to saddling another recent winner Sandbar (Reith) in Saturday’s Listed Starlight Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill.
“I’m very happy with him,” Widdup said. “Provided he races as well as I expect on Saturday, we’ll take him to Brisbane for the Falvelon Quality (1200m) at Eagle Farm on December 21 en route to the $1m Magic Millions Snippets (1200m) at the Gold Coast three weeks later.”
Snitzel four-year-old Sandbar carried 60kg in his defeat of stablemate Junglized in a Benchmark 88 Handicap over the Starlight course on November 2, and drops 5kg.
HOOFNOTE: This Adelong has already earned more prizemoney than the old Adelong, who won only one race (at Rockhampton in August, 2003) from 46 starts after beginning his career at Newcastle before being sold to Central Queensland interests.