NO NEED TO EXAGGERATE ABOUT THIS MARE
- John Curtis
- 7 hours ago
- 2 min read
But Hawkesbury’s leading trainer doesn’t hide his affection for Hyperbolic, who at Royal Randwick yesterday made it two city wins on end.
Ridden by Tommy Berry, the New Zealand-bred mare justified her price in the market ($2.90 favorite) by taking the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1600m), run in memory of the late Newcastle trainer Sam Kavanagh.
Hyperbolic was strong to the line to defeat Bella Montagna ($13) and Deal N Dash ($7).
Widdup paid $240,000 on behalf of Mike Gregg’s Mulberry Racing for the now four-year-old daughter of top New Zealand stallion Proisir at the 2023 NZ Bloodstock Book 1 yearling sale.
“She was a nice athletic filly,” Widdup said today of his purchase.
“Hyperbolic was a bit backward, and needed time to grow into herself.
“As a result we have been patient with her, and she is now mature.
“I’ve always liked her and hoped she would get to where she is now.
“Tommy (Berry) feels she will manage longer than the 1600m, but for now I won’t try to stretch her out a bit further.
“There are a couple of options to hopefully get a hat-trick with her.
“She can go to another 1600m Benchmark 78 Handicap at Randwick on December 27 or the Belle of The Turf Stakes over the same distance at Gosford a day later.”
The Group 3 Belle of the Turf for fillies and mares boasts a $300,000 purse.
Courtesy of Widdup’s patience, Hyperbolic has started only 13 times and is building a tidy record.
This was her fifth victory (her first three were at the provincials) and she has also been placed on four occasions.
Hyperbolic was Widdup’s 27th winner of the season, and he made it 28 today with another Mulberry horse.
Farnan three-year-old Seven Days (Christian Reith) took the Onrail Industries Midway Maiden Plate (1000m) as a $3.50 second favorite.
Purchased for $130,000 at last year’s Perth Magic Millions yearling sale, Seven Days was having only her third start and first since July.
Seven Days responded strongly to Reith’s riding and overpowered Kembla Grange trainer Kerry Parker’s Miss Flanders ($26) and the winner’s stablemate Mind Ya Bizz, who started a $2.80 favorite.
Widdup’s weekend double took his career tally to 446, and Seven Days’ victory increased his lead in the Hawkesbury trainers’ premiership, which he won last year.
He has now trained nine winners at home this season, three ahead of fellow Hawkesbury trainer Jason Attard.
