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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Brad Widdup sees enough upside in the lightly raced and in-form Brimstone to forgo midweek racing and test that potential up in grade at Rosehill on Saturday.

Trainer Brad Widdup (Pic: Bradley Photos)

The four-year-old is coming off his first Australian win, in a midweek Benchmark 72, at Kensington late last month and goes straight into a $150,000 Benchmark 88 in the Victor Ludorum @ Darley Handicap (1400m).

“I think at this time of year, the horse is on the up, what do you do? Stick to a midweek race or have a dig with no weight,’’ Widdup said.

“He handles these types of tracks and I think why not have a go.”

Brimstone drops 4.5kg on his June 29 win where he accounted for Highly Desired, who confirmed the form winning at Warwick Farm midweek, and Widdup is encouraged by the form around Cross Talk.

The ex-Kiwi gelding chased Cross Talk home at his local debut at Canterbury and Widdup said the 2.8 length margin was flattering to the winner, who has since won in Saturday company, and a push to suggest he can be competitive.

“I think we were a bit stiff there first-up, we got smashed at the gates and James (McDonald) pretty much said we should have won,’’ he said.

“It was a big run and all his runs have been really good.

“At Rosehill I don’t like to be giving horses too much to do, I like to be somewhere up on the speed. I think we will stick to his pattern and have him up close as he can be.”

Brimstone, $3.70 with TAB on Thursday, built a handy record in New Zealand and Widdup was rapt when Gerry Harvey sent the horse his way as he was able to hit the ground running.

“I love getting this sort of horse because all the hard work has already been done,’’ he said.

“It’s a bit like getting a European horse. They’ve been through their two and three-year-old season and hopefully you just steer them in the right direction.

“We’ve got great prizemoney here and people are happy to send horses here to have a crack with.”

The Hawkesbury trainer is adding blinkers to two-year-old Zouson Boy for a rematch with Vinnie’s Spirit in the Furphy Handicap (1400m), though he would like to see a drying track.

An easy maiden winner at Kembla a month ago, the gelding was beaten four lengths by Vinnie’s Spirit at Newcastle but he endured a torrid run after missing the start and being forced to race wide.

“He was a bit slow away there at Newcastle, when he won at Kembla he was allowed to stride along and was dominant,’’ he said.

“He had to come out around them with a sustained run. There’s only a couple of two-year-old races left and 1400m suits.”

Brimstone wins at Kensington on June 29

Meanwhile, stable star Icebath is set to resume on Winx Stakes day as Widdup mulls over her preparation leading into her first goal of the Group 1 $1.5m Epsom Handicap.

The inaugural Invitation winner, a race that’s on the radar again this spring, will once again kick off in the Group 3 Show County (1200m) on August 20.

Last year she then tackled the Theo Marks and Golden Pendant on the way to the Epsom and could head that way or via the Tramway and Tibbie Stakes.

“She’s virtually ready. I’m thinking about maybe trying something different this year,’’ he said.

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