WADICK JOINING BRAD WIDDUP'S TEAM

FRIDAY: December 1, 2023: COUNTRY apprentices’ premiership front-runner Zac Wadick is to join leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup’s stable.

Wadick, who won a heat of the Rising Star Series for apprentice jockeys at Coffs Harbour yesterday, has ridden 27.5 winners in New South Wales so far this season and one in Queensland at the Gold Coast.

Only Dylan Gibbons (31 wins), Zac Lloyd (30) and Anna Roper (29) are ahead of him in the State apprentices’ premiership.

Wadick, 21, who is currently apprenticed to Glen Milligan at Taree, will transfer to Widdup sometime this month.

“The exact date is yet to be finalised, but it will be before Christmas,” Widdup said this morning.

“I’m really looking forward to Zac joining our team.

“He is from a racing family (his father Adam rode), and began his career in Sydney with Mark Newnham (now training in Hong Kong) before moving to the country to gain further experience.

“He has done a good job with 82 winners so far to his credit.

“Zac rides well and speaks well, and I’m sure he will be a good asset to our stable with his 3kg claim in both the provincial and metropolitan areas.

“I would like him to focus on the provincial meetings first, and look to go to town in the next season.”

Wadick rode Short Shorts for Widdup at last Saturday’s The Gong metropolitan meeting at Kembla Grange, and after riding at tomorrow’s Newcastle meeting, has another mount for him at Sunday’s Hawkesbury meeting.

He has been booked for three-year-old She’s All It in the XXXX Gold Provincial Maiden Handicap (1000m).

The Starspangledbanner filly made her debut when third to Hachiman in a Maiden Plate (1100m) at Bathurst on October 27.

Widdup has made a number of gear changes, putting a cross-over nose band and lugging bit on, and removing a tongue tie.

“She’s All It goes from a country maiden to a provincial maiden, and it’s going to be tricky for Zac as she has drawn awkwardly,” Widdup said.

“But she has trained on well since her Bathurst debut.”

Widdup has two other runners – Yachtie and Youthfull – at his home track meeting.

Jean Van Overmeire rides Yachtie in the Fowler Civil Contracting Maiden Plate (1300m), and apprentice Jett Stanley takes 2kg off Youthfull’s 59kg in the Lander Toyota Benchmark 64 Handicap (2000m).

Yachtie, who has raced only once and is resuming, also has a number of gear changes.

The Merchant Navy gelding will race in blinkers and a cross-over nose band and will wear ear muffs pre-race, but the tongue tie comes off.

“Yachtie is getting better, but also has a tricky draw to overcome,” Widdup said.

“Youthfull is the pick of my three. She is getting to her peak after two runs back in city company, and also getting up to a more suitable 2000m.”

. Widdup also has three representatives at tomorrow’s Rosehill Gardens meeting; two of them in feature races.

Phearson (Tom Sherry), placed at his last two starts, contests the Group 3 Festival Stakes (1500m), and Sneaky Paige (Tyler Schiller), with a tongue tie back on, resumes in the Listed Starlight Stakes (1100m) after two recent barrier trial wins.

Cross The Rubicon (Rachel King), after one run back from a break, lines up in the Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m) against her own sex.