HE'S A MONEY TREE FOR SURE

WEDNESDAY: September 24, 2025: PERHAPS they should rename him Money Tree?

That’s exactly what a lightly-raced five-year-old called Money Team has been to his new connections since leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup picked him up for $55,000 online in May last year, and syndicated amongst a group which includes son Cooper.

A son of I Am Invincible, Money Team fetched a cool $1m at the Inglis Australian Easter yearling sale in 2022, and raced five times; four for Melbourne trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, and was placed in all four (the first at Gosford and other three at the provincials in Victoria).

In seven starts under Widdup’s banner, the now gelding has won five races; the latest at Warwick Farm today in a Benchmark 78 Handicap (1300m).

Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, Money Team always travelled like a winner notwithstanding his 60.5kg and comfortably defeated Peace Officer ($6.50) and Winston Hills ($4 favorite).

Cooper Widdup not only was part of the winning team as an owner, but strapped the gelding.

Though Widdup bought Money Team in May last year after he ran second in a Werribee Maiden Plate (1400m) as a $1.22 hotpot, he didn’t produce him until January 26 this year when he made a successful debut for his new stable in a Maiden Plate (1200m) at Wyong.

“I tried him as a colt, but he was too soft,” Widdup explained this evening.

“He kept going sore everywhere, and there was no option but to geld him if we wanted him to be a racehorse.”

Money Team’s five wins included a heat of autumn’s Provincial-Midway Championships (1200m) at Gosford (earning $76,250), and Widdup sent him to Brisbane for a resumption third under 60kg in a Class 4 Handicap (1200m) at an Eagle Farm Saturday meeting on August 30.

“I wasn’t disappointed with his run, and brought him back home and gave him time to get over the trip,” Widdup said.

“Whilst I expected him to run well today in a midweek event, I was surprised he was such good odds.”

Money Team was Widdup’s seventh winner of the season, his career 425^th and the Hawkesbury training base’s 25^th success since August 1.

Meanwhile, Widdup’s top sprinter Jedibeel will get another chance to push his claims for a spot in the $20m The Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick on October 18 when he races there on Saturday week.

Jedibeel had a setback which ruled him out of a resumption at Randwick on September 6 in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) before running eighth to Joliestar in the Group 2 The Shorts (1100m) at that track last Saturday.

“Things didn’t work out for him in the run,” Widdup said. “He is in great order and will go to the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) on Saturday week.

“If he doesn’t make The Everest, there is still the $2m Sydney Stakes (1200m) the same day.”

The Premiere is run at weight-for-age, and eight-times winner Jedibeel was successful in the wfa Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick in March, getting out late and unleashing a brilliant turn of foot.