Latest News

By Ray Hickson

Whether Tintookie is given her chance to join Brad Widdup’s team headed toward the Provincial-Midway Championships probably won’t be decided after she resumes at Randwick on Saturday but it’s an option the trainer will keep up his sleeve.

Trainer Brad Widdup (Pic: Bradley Photos)

The consistent mare resumes over the short course in the Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1000m) and Widdup said it looks ideal to kick off her preparation at that trip for the first time since she won on debut.

“There was a race Friday night but she got a bit of weight, and there was the three and four-year-old race but I thought the 1000m would be the better option,’’ Widdup said.

“I’m sure she’ll run well, she’s very consistent. It’s only a 1000m race and we have her forward enough for that.

“I was happy with her second trial and she seems in good order. Hopefully she does everything right.”

Widdup already has Short Shorts and Phearson being set to resume when the Polytrack Provincial-Midway Championships series begins next month – both horses won a heat in 2023 but finished unplaced in the Final.

While Tintookie, $4.40 with TAB on Thursday, isn’t proven at 1400m the Gosford qualifying race over 1200m holds some appeal and there is the incentive of a $1 million Final this year.

“We might have a crack with her at that sort of thing,’’ he said.

“In those bigger races there’s always pressure and if you draw well there’s a chance you can get a soft run.”

Sneaky Paige has yet to find her best form since joining Widdup’s stable and that’s a source of some frustration for the Hawkesbury trainer because she’s always impressive at home.

The five-year-old, formerly with Mark Newnham, recorded a Group 3 placing in the spring of 2022 but hasn’t won in 10 starts since scoring at Randwick in September that year.

She appeared to have her chance when fifth behind Noble Soldier two weeks ago and will wear winkers for the first time in the TAB Handicap (1200m).

“You’d be excited if most of your horses work like she does, she’s a cracking type and has good ability,’’ he said.

“She had a good record when Mark had her and I don’t think she’s got back to that.

“I thought she was a little disappointing the other day. We’ve put a bit of gear on her, she’s working well and looks in great order but has been a bit of a head scratcher.

“Third-up, she’s had a couple of solid gallops now, I’ve put winkers on her, over 1200m she might get a bit softer speed than what she’s been getting.

“If she didn’t run well on Saturday I’d probably throw my hands in the air.”

Widdup isn’t giving up yet on another recent addition in Owen County and says the James Squire Handicap (1600m) will be an important pointer to whether he can regain his best.

The four-year-old showed early promise winning two of his first three starts and was tried at Group 1 level at three. He’d had almost eight months off the scene when he resumed in Widdup’s stable.

Tintookie runs third in a Warwick Farm trial on December 22

He jumped from 1200m first-up to a mile at Randwick two weeks ago where he finished eight lengths behind Belleistic Kids.

“I’m not putting the pen through him until I get him out to 2000m,’’ he said.

“He had a few problems so I gave him a 1200m run to see if he’d sprint well fresh and he did run well. I stepped straight to the mile and his run wasn’t too bad the other day.

“He’s drawn well and I’d like to see him hit the line well and when we go to 2000m that will probably be the D-Day.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Randwick meeting