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By Ray Hickson

A couple of years of patient handling and shrewd placement by trainer Brad Widdup has led Jedibeel into a position to put himself in the mix for a TAB Everest start when he resumes at Randwick on Saturday.

Trainer Brad Widdup (Pic: Bradley Photos).

Unlike some of his opposition in the Group 3 $1m Kia Ora Concorde Stakes (1000m), the gelding only has to impress his owners to put him in the conversation to compete in the $20 million sprint next month.

Jedibeel is owned by Mulberry Racing who recently bought the TAB Everest slot previously held by The Star & Arrowfield and Widdup said it’d be satisfying if he did get to the Everest but it's up to the horse to press his own case.

“He’s in the big league, there’s no ifs and buts,’’ Widdup said.

“I brought him up gradually trying to bring him through his grades and I’ve had to wait for him to get to this level.

“There’s no real pressure on Jedibeel bar if he performs he could be in the mix (for the Everest). At the end of the day we don’t want to send a horse to a race like that unless he’s performing well.”

A road trip to Melbourne for the Group 1 Moir Stakes was strongly considered but Widdup said given how well he’s drawn at Randwick it made sense to stay home and race him under familiar conditions.

The six-year-old, $10 with TAB on Thursday, notched his biggest win to date when he resumed in the autumn and ran 55.97 to win the Group 2 Challenge Stakes over the Concorde course.

Widdup said while he was a shade slow out in his latest trial he had a good hit-out to have him ready to run well fresh as he’s done throughout his career to date.

“He’s been trialling well, he seems in good order,’’ he said.

“He likes the track and distance. If he’s on song and he gets it right he can race well fresh.

“I’m not saying he’s going equally as good or better, the horse is in good order and I’m sure he can produce a good run first-up if he gets his chance.”

Classy filly Savvy Hallie is eyeing the second leg of the Princess Series in the Group 2 $300,000 TAB Furious Stakes (1200m) having ploughed through a heavy track to take out the Silver Shadow two weeks ago.

There’s no concern from Widdup about the firmer ground she’ll face on Saturday, she did run second in the Percy Sykes in the autumn on a good track, and he sees no reason why she won’t take a hand in the finish.

“I think she has a fair bit of quality, I can’t knock her at all,’’ he said.

“She’s learned to win now, she’s a bit older and wiser and has come through the run really good.

“It as a big effort from her last start to back up after nine days and do what she did. I’m not saying she’s a superstar or anything like that but she’s pretty bloody good.

“She’s drawn well so the pressure’s off, she should get a good run and if she’s good enough she can run well again.”

Jedibeel runs fourth in a Hawkesbury trial on August 25

Brad Widdup on Tenbury Wells (race 1): “I’m very happy with this horse, his trials have been excellent. He’s a tricky horse but he’s gelded now and he’s trialled up good so hopefully he can do the right thing this time around.”

On Art’s Alive (race 3): “I’d like to see her bounce back. We took her to the trials and she carried on like a two bob watch, don’t know if it was just freshness but she’s been good at home and hopefully she can turn it around and run a good race.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Randwick meeting