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By Ray Hickson

A debut win gave trainer Brad Widdup a sense he has something to work with in the shape of Snitzel filly Justina and he hopes she can back it up on resumption at Wyong on Sunday.

The three-year-old, a half-sister to stakes winner Camdus, was put away straight after her Kembla Grange success back in September and while Widdup is a little cautious he said he’ll continue to be patient with Justina as she strengthens and works things out.

That said, he can’t see why she won’t be competitive in the Book Your Next Function At Wyong Race Club Handicap (1000m).

“You get your hopes up and you get deflated pretty quickly,’’ Widdup said.

“She has got a pedigree and she seems to be going the right way, hopefully we can get a bit of racing into her this time in.

“She’s been a filly with a few issues and we’ve been patient with her, even this time in depending how she’s going I’d probably only give her three runs.”

Widdup scratched Justina, $3.60 with TAB on Saturday, from the midweek Wyong meeting in preference for Sunday’s race where she’s drawn a little more favourably.

Justina wins a Rosehill trial on December 29

She’s had two trials, the latest a win at Rosehill on December 29, and in-form jockey Brett Prebble has been secured to ride.

“We’ve got to start her off somewhere and we’ve tried to place her as well as we can for her to perform well,’’ he said.

Stayer Ausbred Bluebird put two wins together at the end of her last preparation and the Hawkesbury trainer is expecting a positive return without putting unrealistic expectations on her.

The wins came at 2140m and 2340m so the Coast & Country Meats Wyong Handicap (1600m) is going to be short of her best but the build up has Widdup suggesting a cheeky run could be on the cards.

“She should be competitive, I’m not saying she’ll come out and win first-up but her trials have been good,’’ he said.

“She’s only a light thing who doesn’t carry a lot of weight so I think her fitness is there to run well.

“She’s very honest and she’ll be in for a good prep once we get her out over further.”

Meanwhile, Widdup’s Group 1 winning stable star Icebath is set to have her second trial ahead of her autumn campaign on Monday week before a likely first-up run in the Group 2 Apollo Stakes (1400m) on February 11.

Icebath’s prizemoney ticked over $5.2 million when she took out the Empire Rose Stakes in November. Widdup said her main aims in what could be her final preparation will be the $4 million Doncaster Mile (1600m) and $5 million Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m).

All the fields, form and replays for Sunday’s Wyong meeting