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By John Curtis

Brad Widdup has never previously had a finalist in the Polytrack Provincial-Midway Championships - now he’s got two and there may be more to come.

Hawkesbury’s leading trainer added Saturday’s Kembla Grange record breaker and first-up specialist Short Shorts to his Hawkesbury Qualifier winner Phearson for the $500,000 Final (1400m) to be run at Royal Randwick on April 8 (Day 2 of The Championships).

With two more heats to be run, Widdup plans to have a representative in both, hoping to secure more finalists.

Alysha Collett guides Short Shorts to an easy win at Kembla Grange. Image by Bradley Photographers

Cross The Rubicon, not far away when sixth to Phearson in the Hawkesbury heat on March 4, will line up in Saturday’s 1350m Qualifier at Wyong, and The Poacher, who did an outstanding job from an outside barrier to finish fourth in Kayobi’s Gosford Qualifier (1200m) last Thursday, tackles the Newcastle Wildcard (1400m) on Thursday week.

The Wyong race is for provincial trainers only, and the Wildcard for both provincial and Midway trainers.

Heavily-backed $2.50 favourite Short Shorts (Alysha Collett) became the new 1400m record holder at Illawarra Turf Club when she clocked 1:21.73, clearing out over the closing stages to beat Kris Lees’s Cloudland ($11) by three and a half lengths.

It was her fifth win from 13 starts, and her third from four first-up attempts.

Raced by Widdup’s wife Milissa and Short Shorts’ breeder, New Zealander Mark Fraser-Campin, the four -year-old mare had her Final price slashed from $15 to $6 second favorite on TAB, with Kayobi the ruling $4.50 favourite.

Widdup qualified Witches for the 2018 Final, but she was transferred to another provincial trainer, and finished well down the track behind winner Serene Miss.

“The Provincial-Midway Championship carries terrific prizemoney, and we’ve been fortunate to have some nice horses to aim at the series this year,” Widdup said.

“It’s very pleasing to have already qualified two of them for the Final. Both Phearson and Short Shorts won’t start again before April 8.

“Phearson will trial on Monday week, and we’ll keep Short Shorts on ice until the Final as she is such a good fresh mare.”

Short Shorts was away smartly but her rider Collett wisely didn’t try to mix it with Kembla-trained Zenti ($26), who flew from the barrier stalls and set a scorching pace.

Racing NSW Stewards later opened an inquiry into the running and handling of Zenti (who finished a distant last), and adjourned it to a later date after taking evidence from jockey James Innes Jnr and trainer Ben Smith.

Widdup’s mare took over passing the 400m, and was never seriously threatened thereafter, though runner-up Cloudland issued a brief challenge but was unable to match Short Shorts, who was strong to the line.

Short Shorts was Widdup’s 45th winner this season – and the 130th for Hawkesbury trainers – and he is yet to decide if Ausbred Rising Sun will continue on to the $2m Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday week on the opening day of The Championships.

The Maurice three-year-old got well back and never came into contention in yesterday’s Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m).