A SPECIAL WIN TO SAVOUR FROM AFAR

SUNDAY: November 10, 2024: LUCY Keegan-Attard couldn’t be at Wyong yesterday, but wasn’t going to miss watching Cryptonic post a breakthrough victory.

Keegan-Attard, who trains in partnership with husband Jason Attard at Hawkesbury, is in the UK helping her mother recuperate after having a hip replacement.

“Lucy got up in the early hours of the morning to watch the race on her mobile phone,” Jason Attard explained this morning.

“This horse is pretty special to her as she rode both Cryptonic’s sire (Encryption) and dam (Laussel) work during her time at Godolphin.

“She part-owns and manages the syndicate which races him.”

Ridden by Lee Magorrian and having only his fourth start and first since June, Cryptonic ($2.25 favorit) comfortably won the 4YO & Up Maiden Handicap (1000m).

“Not only was it good to see Cryptonic win, but the most pleasing part was that he settled nicely,” Jason Attard said.

“I mentioned that to Lee before the race, and he got him to settle behind the leading pair Magnolia Jewel and Pombia, then finished the race off strongly when a gap appeared near the inside on the home turn.

“Cryptonic will get 1200m and I feel eventually 1400m later on.

“He has pulled up well, and we’ll look for another suitable race in the coming weeks.”

Cryptonic was a $52,500 purchase at Book 2 of the 2022 Magic Millions yearling sale at the Gold Coast, and didn’t begin racing until May this year when a close runner-up in an 1100m Maiden at home.

He had two more starts, also at Hawkesbury, when fourth and fifth before being spelled.

“Cryptonic is a four-year-old stallion, and is not too big and heavy at this stage to be gelded,” Attard said.

. Leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup claimed a two-track Saturday double, scoring with Confess Our Dreams at Rosehill Gardens and Hardpoint at Wyong.

Confess Our Dreams ($2.10 favorite) made it two city wins on end when she easily took the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1100m) against her own sex, whilst Hardpoint ($1.80 favorite) broke through in the Provincial Maiden Handicap (1600m) at only his second start.

Sadly, Confess Our Dreams’ Melbourne breeder-owner Akram Younan passed away recently before his four-year-old daughter of Shalaa scored at Warwick Farm midweek on October 16.

“There is definitely more upside with Confess Our Dreams, but I will probably stop with her now,” Widdup said.

“There isn’t another suitable race for her until December 7, so we can give her a break and look ahead to the autumn.”

Widdup was equally pleased with lightly-raced Raise The Flag three-year-old Hardpoint’s Wyong performance.

“He was going from 1400m on debut at Kembla Grange (when third at $31) to 1600m, and had to do plenty of work early and then show fight in the straight,” Widdup said.

“Hardpoint looks as though he is going to get even further on his ear.”

Widdup picked out Hardpoint in a paddock at Cross Park, and arranged a deal to race him with breeder Adrian Whittingham.

“Adrian had sent his unraced I Am Invincible mare Holy Flame to New Zealand to be mated with Raise The Flag, and Hardpoint was the result,” he explained.

“I really liked him when I saw him, and Brad Widdup Racing and our son Cooper race the gelding in partnership with Cross Park and Akaka Falls’ owner Adrian Britt.”

Widdup’s double took his number of winners this season to 21, and he is keen to start dual Group 3 winner Phearson in Saturday’s $1m Group 2 The Hunter (1300m) at Newcastle.