WIDDUP GOES CRASH BANG WALLOP AT GOSFORD

SATURDAY: August 29, 2026: BRAD Widdup went crash, bang wallop with a Gosford double yesterday.

The first of his winners was a mare carrying a famous set of racing colours, and the second has really hit a “hot spot” this preparation.

The superbly named Crash Bang Wallop (her dam is Thud) is raced by Olly Tait, internationally experienced in the racing and breeding industry, and currently the proprietor of Twin Hulls Stud at Cootamundra in NSW.

Carrying the red and white silks of the Tait family, inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2014, the four-year-old mare broke through at only her second start in the 4YO & Up Maiden Plate (1200m).

Horses of the calibre of Baguette, Tie The Knot, Cabochon, Spinning Hill, Heirloom, Wild Iris, Whisked and Zanbagh all raced in the colours.

And whilst the daughter of Deep Field has a fair way to go to join such illustrious company, she is at least on the board early in her racing career.

Ridden by Chad Schofield, Crash Bang Wallop ($5) defeated $81 roughie Love Goddess and $2.60 favorite Stratford.

“Olly bred Crash Bang Wallop, but she had a few issues early on and wasn’t able to go to the yearling sales,” Widdup said today.

“We have had to be patient with her, and she had four trials, starting off in February, before finally going to the races and finishing fourth at Gosford on August 6.

“Crash Bang Wallop is a half-sister to the five-times winner (three in Sydney) Eye Of The Fire.”

Widdup completed his Gosford double – and took his tally to eight in the first month of the season – when Longinus ($3 favorite) trounced his rivals in the Benchmark 64 Handicap (2070m).

With Zac Lloyd aboard, the six-year-old gelding scored by nearly six lengths from Proxima Centauri ($11) and In Top Timing ($31) to post his third win, and second from his last three starts.

“Longinus just wasn’t right last campaign when he came to me, and I gave him three runs and stopped at the end of last year,” Widdup said.

“His owners were prepared to send him to Randwick Equine Centre to get a scintigraphy (an advanced imaging test to source areas of abnormal bone metabolism, inflammation, or injury in horses) done,” Widdup said.

“They found a hot spot in his neck.

‘I’ve been around horses a long time, and was gobsmacked.

“Longinus has come back a different horse, and that was a very impressive performance yesterday.

“He has to be ridden the right way though.

“You can’t wait and try to outsprint them at the end. You have to keep rolling on him.

“Zac crossed from a near outside barrier yesterday, took up the running and he ran them off their legs.”