SAVVY HALLIE HAS “FIRE IN HER BELLY” FOR EVEREST ASSIGNMENT

Hawkesbury News October 14 2026

OCTOBER 14, 2026: SHE might be one of The Everest outsiders at $71, but Savvy Hallie has “the fire in her belly”!

And though we can’t tell you that’s straight from the horse’s mouth, it’s from someone who has a very close attachment to the four-year-old mare, already the winner of four races (three of them at Group 2 level) with earnings of $1.35m from only 14 starts.

Savvy Hallie’s trackwork rider and trainer Brad Widdup’s foreperson Rosie Jilla (pictured), the person who is on her back almost every day, says the progression the mare has made from her last preparation to now is unbelievable.

“She has really come into herself, and definitely has more fire in her belly,” Ms Jilla said.

“Savvy Hallie has a fantastic attitude.

“It’s her biggest asset.

“She has that attitude that a lot of good horses have.

“Savvy Hallie loves her work and loves to be out there racing.

“She is a fantastic mare to ride and for Brad to train.”

Jilla has been with Hawkesbury’s leading trainer since he launched his training career nine years ago.

In fact, outside Widdup, wife Milissa and family, she is the one constant from the original team which got the stable up and running.

“It’s hard to believe it will be 10 years next year since Brad started,” she said.

“Brad, Milissa and the children are like family, and have been and continue to be so good to me.

“I was working here at the stables when Brad started, and I’m still here.

“I love what I’m doing, and couldn’t think of working anywhere else.

“To have Savvy Hallie in The Everest is so exciting for everyone at the stable.

“And for her owners B K Racing & Breeding and Ben Vassallo, and Mulberry, who have the slot in the race.”

Jilla came to Australia from the UK 15 years ago – but not particularly to work at a racing stable.

“It was a gap year, and I came here as an equestrian to ride in three-day events (dressage, cross-country and show jumping),” she explained.

“I didn’t have any experience working in racing.

“But I have always had a great passion for the horse, and was working at the same stable for Blake Ryan (who was looking after his Rosehill Gardens’ trainer father Gerald’s second base) when Brad started up.

“Eventually I gave the eventing away because I couldn’t do both justice.”

Jilla had a great association with Widdup’s now retired classy mare Icebath, and was with her when she won the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington in November 2022; the trainer’s major breakthrough.

“It was a bitter sweet relationship,” Jilla said with a chuckle. 

“Though Icebath also won the $2m The Invitation (1400m) against her own sex at Randwick the previous year, she was such an unlucky mare in so many big races.

“She was just beaten by Colette in the $7.5m Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill in 2020, as well as being runner-up in both the 2021 Doncaster Mile at Randwick and Cantala Stakes at Flemington.

“Icebath also ran third to Mr Brightside in the 2022 Doncaster, and later that year was second again, this time to the champ Anamoe in another big Randwick ‘mile’, the Group 1 George Main Stakes.”

Jilla remembers Savvy Hallie’s first barrier trial as a two-year-old at Hawkesbury in December 2024.

“It was on the course proper, Tyler Schiller rode Savvy Hallie and she won an 800m heat,” she said.

“But Brad didn’t rush her to the races, and trialled her again at Warwick Farm a couple of months later before starting her career there when she ran second to King Of Pop.

“Brad always has the welfare of his horses at the forefront of his mind.

“I was in Melbourne looking after Savvy Hallie’s stablemate Nashville Jack on February 28 this year when he ran second in the $1m Inglis Sprint at Flemington.

“Savvy Hallie raced the same day and I was watching from afar when she almost beat Tempted in the Group 1 Surround Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.”

Needless to say Jilla will be at Randwick on Saturday amongst the Team Widdup cheer squad when Savvy Hallie takes her place in the $20m The Everest (1200m) field, striving for a well deserved Group 1 breakthrough.

“Of course the Hong Kong champ Ka Ying Rising is the one to beat,” she said.

“But you never know in racing.

“What I do know is that Brad has Savvy Hallie in fantastic order, and she will give her all.”

HOOFNOTE: Savvy Hallie’s The Everest strapper is Morgan Eldridge.

 “It will be a big thrill for Morgan,” Milissa Widdup said.

“He had never worked at a racing stable until he joined us three years ago.”

It is also fitting that Savvy Hallie’s stablemate Hyperbolic will join her on the float to Randwick to resume in the Benchmark 88 Handicap (1400m) on Saturday.

“They are besties,” Milissa Widdup said. “Savvy Hallie and Hyperbolic are stabled beside each other at home, and always eat at the same time.”