Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup’s fledgling career continues to blossom as
he clocked up his 13th winner from 46 runners (28.3% strike rate) when teaming up again with
Dynamic Syndications, this time producing our
debutant PLEASANTRIES (Foxwedge x Polite) on her home track and she didn’t let connections down, providing the trainer him with his
13th Winner and Team Dynamic with their 497th Winner and her owners with their first of what is promising to be many wins.
It was a family affair with
Brad’s brother-in-law Christian Reith as the pilot.
The Dynamic debutant was sent out at $2.90, having been as much as $7.00 when markets opened. She was confidently backed to record this victory, contesting Race 4, the Richmond Club Provincial & Country Maiden Handicap (1100m). The time was very good also when running the 1100m in 1:02.78 with the last 600m in 34.31.
She began smartly and led all the way and most importantly, she was strong through the line, giving her owners no reasons for concern. She comfortably held off the challenge of $1.95 favourite Oxford Bella who finished 0.75 lengths behind in second whilst $21 chance Supreme Escape, was a further 2.55 lengths away in third.
Brad Widdup is quickly establishing himself as a real force in the training ranks. He scored with his first starter Junglized at Canberra in late May, and
his record now stands at 13 winners (including two in town) and 10 placings from 46 starters. Eight of those victories have come in this new season.
Brad Widdup took over Dynamic Syndications’ four-year-old Foxwedge mare this preparation, and fitted her for today’s debut with two barrier trials.
She ran fourth in a 792m Warwick Farm trial on August 25, and then scored over 845m at Wyong on September 11.
“It’s fantastic that she has been able to win at her first start,” Widdup said.
"She had trialled up well, and was in really good order for her debut. She was a bit keen, but Christian knew what he was on.
“It’s taken a while to get her to the races, and she has done a good job.”
Owned by a top team of Dynamic Syndications owners, it was amazing that Brad got the filly to make it to the track at all.
As an early 2yo, she showed plenty of ability and potential but tragically she bowed a tendon and required significant time off the scene.
When she returned and was galloping strongly in training, she pulled up scratchy one morning and a subsequent set of x-rays revealed chips in both knees.
Again surgery and then a significant amount of time passed but for owners it was well worth the wait, as the now 4yo mare absolutely delighted her connections with such a satisfying victory.
Pleasantries became the 497th Race Win for Team Dynamic and became the team’s 169th Individual Winner from 187 Individual Runners (90.4%) and she was Team Dynamic’s 10th Winner of the new season (which has been running 7 weeks).
Dynamic Syndications Racing, Matrix Racing, Mr M Kelly, Mr J P Kelly, Mr J E McKelvey, Mr D J Williamson, Mr R Tonna, Mr T S Menounos, Mr G A Logan, Mrs L E Jones, Mr K C Jones, Ms D G Hall, Mr S J Read, Mrs G M Gammage, Mrs A J Ford, Mr P W Robertson, Mr J Rogers, Oxford Ladies
Special mention goes to the Matrix Racing Syndicate who bred the filly and purchased shares to race her with us and also the girls from leading Hunter Valley nursery Newgate Farm who stand the outstanding young sire Foxwedge.
Also, we want to acknowledge the spectacular photos from Bradley Photographers who do a marvellous job capturing the imagery on the day which we share in our stories.