JEDIBEEL UP TO THE MARK FOR BIG DOOMBEN SPRINT

SUNDAY: May 11, 2025: BRAD Widdup is leaving nothing to chance with Jedibeel, in his bid to snare a second major at Doomben on Saturday.

The eight times winning sprinter, narrowly beaten at his first Brisbane start, is primed for the $1.5m Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1200m).

“Jedibeel remained in Brisbane under the care of Rosie Jilla, and has been based at Eagle Farm,” leading Hawkesbury trainer Widdup said today.

“Rosie took him across to Doomben yesterday morning for a look at the track, and he will go back there on Tuesday morning for his final gallop.

“Jedibeel has come through his Victory Stakes run really well and is in great order.”

Tyler Schiller is back on Jedibeel, having ridden the Savabeel gelding in nine of his 21 career starts - and won six of them, including the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Royal Randwick in March.

Like the Challenge, the Doomben 10,000 is run at weight-for-age.

Robbie Dolan had the mount when Jedibeel was beaten a whisker by roughie Libertad in the Group 2 Victory Stakes (1200m) – also a wfa contest - at Eagle Farm on May 3.

Prior to final acceptances for Doomben’s richest sprint, Jedibeel was a $15 chance on Sunday with TAB.com.au.

With nearly $900,000 prizemoney already earned, he will take his tally beyond $1m if he finishes first or second on Saturday.

Widdup’s breakthrough Group 1 winner was Icebath (Craig Williams) in the Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington in October, 2022 against her own sex.

Jedibeel races in the University of NSW Cricket Club’s bumble bee colours for his major owner Mike Gregg – and they were carried to victory at Kembla Grange yesterday by the three-year-old filly Hyperbolic.

In a tense finish, Hyperbolic ($2.60 favorite) arrived in the nick of time to edge out locals, Rob and Luke Price’s Invade And Conquer ($3.60) and Mitch Beer’s Presides ($5).

Widdup purchased the daughter of Proisir for $240,000 in New Zealand in 2023 on Gregg’s behalf – and this was her third win from only nine starts.

He nominated Hyperbolic for yesterday’s $500,000 The Coast (1600m) at Gosford, but opted for an easier assignment.

“Hyperbolic is not really comfortable on heavy ground; I found that out when she resumed and ran fourth at Wyong in March on a ‘Heavy 8’ as a short-priced favorite,” Widdup said.

“The track yesterday was soft and when she drew the outside, it seemed logical that she would be out wide in the better part of the track in the straight.

“I’ll see if this wet weather pattern continues before deciding if we pull up stumps with her this campaign, or give her another start.”

Widdup will continue on a Group 1 Queensland Oaks path with Canny Queen, who ran a gutsy fourth in terrible conditions in the Gold Coast Bracelet (1800m) yesterday (the final race was called off after her race was run).

“Canny Queen got too far back to be a winning chance, and she toughed it out in the straight,” he said.

“Provided she comes through the Bracelet okay, she will go to The Roses (2000m) at Doomben on Saturday week, and then the Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm a fortnight later.”

Meanwhile, Widdup’s apprentice Zac Wadick’s success at Gosford yesterday kept him right in the picture for Sydney apprentice premiership honours this season.

Wadick’s win on Enter the Dragon ($11) for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott in the 3&4YO Benchmark 72 Handicap (1600m) was his 21st in metropolitan racing since August 1.

He is only three wins behind Braith Nock – who also ride a Gosford winner – and Molly Bourke is on 22 wins.