Hawkesbury preview: Brad Widdup excited to see what Jedibeel can do on debut

Trainer Brad Widdup is hoping his luck can turn with first starter Jedibeel at Hawkesbury on Tuesday.

Jedibeel, a well-bred three-year-old colt by champion sire Savabeel, has impressed at the barrier trials and is $3.90 favourite in early TAB Fixed Odds betting to make a winning debut in the Richmond Club Provincial Maiden (1100m).

Widdup is due for some good fortune after confirming Golden Slipper hopeful Fire Lane is out of Saturday’s big race after running below expectations in the Magic Night Stakes.

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The trainer has also been frustrated by stable star Icebath’s slow recovery from a hoof abscess which has impacted her autumn race program.

Icebath, winner of the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes, The Invitation and more than $5.2 million prizemoney, resumed with a close fourth to champion Anamoe in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes a month ago but she has been unable to race since due to the hoof issue.

“Everything is good with Icebath now but we are running out of time,” Widdup said.

“She had a foot abscess that took forever to come right which has been so frustrating because she is in great order. Hopefully we can get her to the All Aged Stakes (Randwick, April 15).

“But Fire Lane is going to the paddock (Tuesday). She wasn’t at her best last Saturday and I don’t want to run in a Golden Slipper if she is not going to run some sort of race.”

Widdup will still have a Group 1 presence on Golden Slipper Day with promising three-year-old Ausbred Rising Sun being aimed at the $600,000 Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas (2000m).

Ausbred Rising Sun won two of his first three starts before finishing third to Pericles in the Group 2 Autumn Classic at Sandown.

“I want to run him in the Rosehill Guineas, I think he is a pretty nice horse,” Widdup said.

“He worked nicely this morning on the course proper at Hawkesbury and I’ve got Brett Prebble to ride on Saturday. We will nominate for Melbourne but I’d prefer to race in the Guineas.”

Widdup also has a good opinion of Jedibeel, his only entry for his home track Tuesday meeting at Hawkesbury.

Jedibeel won a Hawkesbury trial brilliantly then was deliberately ridden behind the speed when a close fourth in a Randwick heat last week.

“We have been patient with Jedibeel, he’s a very sensible colt and does look a nice horse,” Widdup said.

“The draw isn’t great but I’m a bit ‘itchy’ to run him as his trials have been good so we might roll the dice.

“There is the option of waiting for Kembla Grange on Saturday but it is so hard to get a run in maidens at the moment and I would dearly love to get him going.”

SARGENT HOPING MOUNTAIN CAN RISE TOP THE OCCASION

Promising filly Mountain Guest’s unusual route to the Group 1 Australian Oaks is not without precedent for trainer John Sargent.

“I took Gust Of Wind to a big track at Scone to win her maiden before she won the Oaks,” Sargent said. “I’m hoping we can do something similar with Mountain Guest.”

Sargent wanted to give Mountain Guest her chance on a spacious course and has found the ideal race for her in the Pioneer Services Maiden (1800m) at Hawkesbury on Tuesday.

Mountain Guest has been placed in three of her four starts including a fast finishing third at Gosford over 1600m late last month.

“We are heading to the Oaks with her next month so I would like to see her win at Hawkesbury,” Sargent said.

“She is right at her peak, gets out to her right distance range and hopefully she can get a trouble-free run.

“At Gosford last start, she got held up and did well to finish as close as she did. Hawkesbury is a nice, big track so she should get her chance.”

Gust Of Wind followed her Scone maiden win by taking out the 2015 Group 1 ATC Australian Oaks three starts later and became the last horse to beat all-time great Winx in a race.

Winx ran second in the Oaks then started her famous 33-race winning streak next start when she won the Sunshine Coast Guineas.

Mountain Guest is at $7 in latest betting behind the John O’Shea-trained Gorgeous Zara at $2.10 favourite.

Sargent is also sending Casual Connection and Reliable Dude to the Hawkesbury meeting with the stablemates due to clash in the Lander Toyota Benchmark 64 Handicap (2000m).

Casual Connection ($4.40) and Reliable Dude ($6) are prominent in overnight betting behind favourite Field Marshal at $3.60.

“I think this looks a lovely race for Casual Connection,” Sargent said.

“He has a soft draw and out to 2000m in this company, he should run well. He’s certainly fit and ready to go.

“Reliable Dude had excuses last start but from the soft draw, he should get the right run this time. They are both good chances.”