"JACK" SEALS ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL WIDDUP SEASON

SUNDAY: July 27, 2025: THE season is not quite over, but it’s been another excellent one for Hawkesbury’s leading trainer Brad Widdup.

His first-up victory with promising youngster Nashville Jack at Royal Randwick yesterday was his 61^st in 2024-25, equalling his number the previous season, and for the third racing year his horses have topped $4m in earnings.

And he also beat major Sydney stables to land his first home track trainers’ premiership.

“Very pleased with how the season has gone,” Widdup said today.

“We did have a bit of a lull in regard to winners earlier in the year, but we’re finishing the season well.

“I’m looking forward to the new racing year with some nice young horses in the stable.”

One of those horses is Nashville Jack, a son of Golden Slipper winner Farnan, purchased by Widdup for $225,000 at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter yearling sale on behalf of Sydney businessman Mike Gregg’s Mulberry Racing, whose bumble bee colours have been well to the fore with eight-times winner Jedibeel, including one at Group 2 level.

Ridden by Jason Collett, Nashville Jack ($4.60) surged along the inside to clearly land the 2YO Handicap (1100m) from Hello Romeo ($13) and Wisnierska ($81).

He was having only his third start and first since the autumn after racing well in both the Group 2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on February 22 and Group 3 Black Opal Stakes (1200m) at Canberra on March 9.

“Nashville Jack shifted a shoe in the Canberra race, and was very lucky he didn’t do serious damage,” Widdup said.

“He had won both his recent trials, and I expected him to run very well yesterday.”

Rather surprisingly, most punters preferred Gosford debut winner Nazwah, who started $1.90 favorite, but she was found wanting at the end and ran sixth.

Never one to put false wraps on his horses, Widdup nonetheless likes Nashville Jack’s style.

“He has a good brain and a good temperament,” he said.

“You always want to see them do it again next time, but he is a nice horse and hopefully can go on to better things as a three-year-old.”

Widdup said Nashville Jack had pulled up well, and would most likely contest the Listed Rosebud (1100m) at Rosehill on August 16 next.

He had enough faith in the colt’s ability to convince his owner to also buy the half-brother (Snitzel-Dixie Chick) for $300,000 at the same Inglis Australian Easter yearling sale this year in April.

“He’s different to Nashville Jack,” Widdup said. “Not as athletic, but a real nugget and is in the stable now.”

Widdup is chasing further city success at the last meeting of the season at Warwick Farm on Wednesday, with both recent Newcastle winner Audrey’s Lane and former Victorian mare Kind Gesture likely to contest the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m) against their own sex.

. Fellow Hawkesbury trainer Tommy Wong prepared the local training base’s 18^th winner this month when he followed up by scoring with Leading Impact ($2.45 favorite) at Muswellbrook today.

Ridden by Winona Costin, who returned from a Brisbane stint yesterday, Leading Impact never looked in danger in the 2YO Maiden Handicap (1000m) at only his second start.

The son of Zousain was a $50,000 purchase at last year’s Magic Millions National yearling sale at the Gold Coast.