WELL BRED COLT BREAKS THROUGH AT ONLY THIRD START
- John Curtis
- 5 minutes ago
- 2 min read
Having only his third start following two seconds at his first racing preparation, the Bivouac three-year-old’s victory in the Provincial Maiden Plate (1400m) was narrow but impressive.
Sent out as a $1.40 favorite, the younger half-brother to now retired triple Group 1 winner Duais sustained a long run from just after leaving the 600m to edge out local pair Coco Dior ($6.50) and Barrengarry ($7).
Earlier in the day, Widdup received a good report from stable foreperson Rosie Jilla in regard to Jedibeel’s Caulfield gallop leading up to his resumption in Saturday’s Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) there.
“Jedibeel worked on the course proper with race jockey Damian Lane aboard,” Widdup said this evening.
“Rosie said Damian was really pleased with him.
“We’ve done everything possible to give him a good chance on Saturday.
“All we want now is a good barrier when the field is finalised in the morning.”
Waerea is another product of the outstanding broodmare Meerlust, and understandably Widdup was pleased to be given the opportunity to train him.
“Even though the margin was narrow today, Waerea did a really good job to win,” Widdup said.
“Tyler (Schiller) took off just after leaving the 600m, made a sweeping run around the field and the colt wouldn’t give in.
“That was 1400m first-up, so I’m sure there is further improvement to come.
“He is heading in the right direction.”
Waerea was the trainer’s third winner in the last four days (Savvy Hallie won at Royal Randwick last Saturday and Pro Velocity on the Beaumont track yesterday), and lifted his season’s tally to 35.
Widdup also was pleased with how talented three-year-old Nashville Jack trialled at Warwick Farm yesterday, and has given the go-ahead for him to head south as Jedibeel has done.
Nashville Jack, who ran a cracking second in the $3m Sunlight Plate at the Gold Coast on January 10 (Savvy Hallie was fourth, ran third in a 792m Open three-year-old heat.
“He will be floated to Melbourne on Thursday night, and Damian Lane also will ride him in Saturday week’s $1m Inglis Sprint (1200m) at Flemington,” Widdup said.
