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By John Curtis

Brad Widdup will have his three most successful jockeys aboard on Sunday as he bids to win his first home track premiership.

Hawkesbury’s leading trainer goes into the final meeting of the season equal with Annabel & Rob Archibald (13 wins apiece).

Widdup has Christian Reith (56 wins), Alysha Collett (40 wins) and his apprentice Zac Wadick (28 wins) booked for his five definite runners, whereas the Archibald stable has only two acceptors (The Cristal and Storm Park).

Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup. Image by Bradley Photographers

Reith will ride Afloat (HRC Motel Provincial Maiden Handicap, 1300m-$2.30 favourite on TAB) and Tequisoda (Blakes Marine Maiden Plate, 1500m-$2.10), Collett partners Gladstone Grande (St Johns Park Bowling Club CG&E Maiden Plate, 1100m-$4.80) and Sunset Park (Godolphin Midway Benchmark 64 Handicap, 1300m-$6.50).

Zac Wadick is on Noises (Essential Asset & Fire Benchmark 64 Handicap, 1500m-$5.50).

Both Afloat and Noises are dual acceptors, but the former has been withdrawn from the Blakes Marine Maiden Plate to avoid clashing with stablemate Tequisoda, and Noises will come out of the Godolphin Midway Benchmark 64 so as not to clash with Sunset Park.

Widdup also accepted with You’re The Choice (Collett-$6) in the XXXX Gold F&M Maiden Plate (1100m), but she has drawn poorly and is more likely to run at Gosford tomorrow, where she has drawn much better.

Hawkesbury, with those 13 wins, has clearly been Widdup’s most successful track from his 58 overall successes so far this season, and 55 of his career 415.

Afloat, a lightly-raced three-year-old son of Astern, makes his debut for the stable after being purchased from Godolphin for $40,000.

He has raced four times for two placings (at Newcastle and Kembla Grange), has been placed at both city trials for his new stable, and will race in a tongue tie.

At his latest trial (third over 1020m at Rosehill Gardens on July 4), he closed off nicely and wasn’t far behind second placed Starry Desert, an Irish import who make a successful Australian debut at Newcastle earlier in the week.

Tequisoda is a Pierro two-year-old filly who ran second to Sapling on debut at Wyong on July 5.

“She probably wouldn’t be in this race had she not struck trouble just after the start that day,” Widdup said. “Going from 1300m to 1500m at home will suit her.”

Gladstone Grande returns as a gelding, and will race in a cross-over nose band and without winkers. A soon to be three-year-old, he has raced only once when he showed pace in the Kirkham Plate (1000m) at Royal Randwick last October.

Noises will have ear muffs removed at the barrier and also resumes, having taken on Group 1 company at both Randwick and Flemington last spring. Widdup’s apprentice Zac Wadick will be hoping Noises can get him a victory.

With seven local wins so far this season, he needs one more to tie with Zac Lloyd for the apprentices’ premiership. Lloyd rode those eight winners before becoming a senior jockey and, with 16 wins, has the latter title well and truly in the bag.

Sunset Park, successful at two of her four starts, is another resuming and has been placed at both recent trials: “Sunset Park’s two wins were over 1600m and 2000m last time in work, and I would have preferred a longer race than 1300m,” Widdup said.

“But it’s at home and is a nice race to kick her off in, and she did run second on debut over 1300m at Newcastle in January.”

Leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees will test Justice Please (apprentice Ben Osmond-$6) at 2000m in the Godolphin Lifetime Care Class 1/Maiden Plate.

“Justice Please has raced well at 1600m at her last three starts, and it’s the right time to try her beyond that distance,” stable spokesman Danny Greer said.

The rail is out 5m from the 1100m to 450m, and in the TRUE position for the remainder of the circuit. Course manager Digby Nuthall at 8.45am today posted a Soft 5 rating.

The Godolphin Family Funday eight-race card begins at 11.45am.

View the final fields with full form & race replays for Hawkesbury here