By John Schell
The winning run of Hawkesbury-based trainer Brad Widdup is set to continue at Newcastle on Tuesday when he sends around a number of leading contenders across two races.
Widdup has the hugely talented mare Colours Of Autumn ($1.30 favourite on TAB) set to contest the Sharp Office Provincial Class 1 Handicap (1350m) with 2kg-claiming apprentice Zac Wadick taking the ride.
Stablemate, Canny Queen, was also an acceptor in the same event, but has been scratched, leaving Colours Of Autumn to fly the flag for the stable.
“Colours Of Autumn is a really nice mare and well-bred,” Widdup said of the daughter of The Autumn Sun.
“She’s had nine starts and has a win and a few placings to her name already. She took on Group 3 company back in the autumn, we thought that much of her.
"She finished down the track in that event, but she did manage to run second at Rosehill before that behind a handy filly, so there’s no doubting she has a stack of ability.”
Colours Of Autumn was well in the market and hit the line well to run second to Headstock at Kembla Grange last month, and Widdup was happy with the performance.
“She resumed with a close second at Kembla and she’s come on since that run,” he said. “The race at Newcastle looks like it will suit and she should take a power of beating.”
Widdup has a three-pronged attack in the TAB App Maiden Handicap (1350m) with Maybe Now (Wadick-$14), Dream High (Rory Hutchings-$26) and Pro Velocity (Mitch Stapleford-$126) all going around.
“Maybe Now has had two trials in preparation for the debut and while he’ll be better with the experience, he should be doing his best work late,” Widdup said.
“Dream High has had two recent trials and he’s looked good in both of them so a bold showing from him wouldn’t surprise. And Pro Velocity lost her rider on debut at Hawkesbury after she looked to buck after the start.
“She’s had a trial since then and she should be doing her best work late in this. She gets in with a light weight.”
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