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By John Curtis

Brad Widdup Racing is sponsoring three of its staff in this long weekend’s inaugural Equimillion.

An equestrian event with minimum prizemoney of $1 million, Equimillion is exclusively for retired Thoroughbred racehorses across three disclipines of eventing, jumping, dressage and show horse.

The competition will be held at the Sydney International Equestrian Centre on Saturday (show horse and eventing dressage), Sunday (dressage and eventing jumping and cross country) and Monday (jumping).

Racing NSW is partnering with Equestrian Australia to deliver this exciting event showcasing the athleticism and adaptability of the Thoroughbred horse for a career after racing.

Rosie Jilla, Poppie Gorton and Jessica Galea will compete under the Widdup Racing banner.

Jessica Galea after winning the Agnes Banks Equine Clinic's Junior Championship

“We are delighted to sponsor all three ladies in such a new and interesting competition,” Milissa Widdup said.

“Rosie has been with us for six and a half years,” Widdup said. “She started with us on Day 1 in 2017 when Brad began training at Hawkesbury, and is a highly valued member of our team.

“Rosie is a Four Star eventing rider and, like all competitors, is especially looking forward to this weekend.

“Poppie Gorton won the Rod Whinchester Trophy for the best and fairest junior rider at last year’s Sydney International 3-Day Event.

“Poppie is 16 and started with us in January, and will become apprenticed to Brad next year. She is classed as an EVa95 rider, and also will compete in the eventing section.

“Jessica is 20 and has been with us for two and a half years. She spent 12 months with the famous Australian Olympian Vicki Roycroft, and is a high level show jumper, and as such will compete in the jumping section.”

Meanwhile, the Widdup’s second son, 15-year-old Hunter, is also assisting his father by riding trackwork three mornings a week on schooldays.

Now that NSW school holidays have begun prior to the start of the fourth and final term of the year, he is riding work every morning.

“Hunter loves racing, and enjoys doing all our social media updates,” Milissa Widdup said. “He would have liked to be a jockey, as he used to dress up in the Darley silks when Brad worked there before taking out his own training licence.

“However, he is too tall. I’m sure both Hunter and our eldest son Cooper will both eventually follow their father and train.”

Visit - Equimillion