BRAD Widdup will never forget the day he got a phone call totally out of the blue.
It was from Sydney businessman Mike Gregg in late 2019, wanting to become involved in the thoroughbred industry as an owner.
Widdup’s major client Damien Flower had been stood down by RacingNSW from all participation in the industry, and the leading Hawkesbury trainer said there were “some pretty hollow days” following.
“Mike apparently had been using a ratings system, and I must have come up okay,” Widdup said today.
“He also believed in equality, and didn’t mind that I used female jockeys.”
The association between trainer and owner has come a long way since that phone call; cemented further by Jedibeel’s heart-stopping Listed Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m) victory at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
The now five-year-old was the first yearling Widdup purchased for Gregg, who races the gelding in partnership with his grandson Lachlan Sheridan.
Ironically, Widdup went beyond the budget he had been given to secure Jedibeel, who races in the distinctive bumble bee colours of Gregg’s University of NSW cricket club.
“Mike’s budget was $150,000 at the 2021 Inglis Classic yearling sale, and to be honest I didn’t think we would have enough money to get the horse,” he said.
“The bidding went beyond the budget, but I really liked Jedibeel and wasn’t going to let him go.
“Thankfully, Mike agreed to pay the $190,000 he cost.
“Mike is a fantastic supporter of our stable, and I’ve got some 25 horses for him now.
“Many are owned by himself, and others race under the Mulberry banner of which he is the major partner.”
Being by Cox Plate winner and Victoria Derby placegetter Savabeel from an O’Reilly mare (Starry), Widdup understandably expected Jedibeel would run at least 1600m and perhaps even 2000m, especially as his older brother Starrybeel had won over 2200m at Ellerslie in New Zealand.
But that hasn’t been the case, though he continues to be a wonderfully consistent sprinter.
From 17 starts, he has won seven and been placed as many times, and earned just over $527,000.
Widdup knew there was no point pursuing longer races when Jedibeel was beaten by Gosford trainer Angela Davies’ Karedada in a Provincial Class 1 Handicap (1200m) at Newcastle on March 30 last year, after winning on debut at Hawkesbury 16 days earlier over 1100m.
“I knew Angela had a good opinion of her horse, but I was disappointed Jedibeel didn’t win that day,” Widdup said.
“I remember thinking to myself that this bloke can’t run 1200m.”
Subsequent genetic testing showed Jedibeel in fact was a sprinter, and Widdup has done a terrific job, keeping him at distances between 1000m and 1200m.
“To be fair, he has started only three times at 1200m for a win and two placings, and he did a terrific job to win at Randwick for the first time after it looked as though he wouldn’t get clear in the closing stages.
“He’s a lovely horse and very intelligent, and has won on both good and soft ground.
“I planned the three runs for him this campaign which he has had, and we’ll probably give him a short break now and look to the autumn.
“Jedibeel’s benchmark rating was 90 going into the Razor Sharp, and that obviously will go up.
“We might have to get it up a bit more to have a crack at some of those good sprints in autumn.”
Story John Curtis, December 15, 2024 - Pics Bradley Photos
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