Latest News

By Ray Hickson

Trainer Brad Widdup is convinced dry tracks are bringing out the best in emerging mare Ausbred Flirt as she eyes a hat-trick at Randwick on Saturday but he’s strongly considering throwing her in the deep end at Gosford on Wednesday.

Trainer Brad Widdup (Pic: Bradley Photos).

The four-year-old has put a combined 11.3 lengths on her rivals in two wins this campaign at Kembla Grange as Widdup has eased her through the grades waiting for the right race to step her up.

On paper he says that race is Saturday’s The Agency Real Estate Handicap (1600m) but a kind draw could sway him to the Group 3 Belle Of The Turf when acceptances are taken on Friday.

“In my opinion Saturday’s race is a good race for her but I understand chasing black type,’’ Widdup said.

“These fillies and mares black type races are always very strong, and if you can get that on your page it’s a big thing.

“After the first win at Kembla I was looking to go to town but there wasn’t the right race so I thought we’d go there again and she backed it up.

“No disrespect, it wasn’t a vintage field, but she couldn’t have been more impressive.”

Ausbred Flirt won on debut in August last year but didn’t seem to come up in her second preparation finishing unplaced in two runs last summer.

She’s been a different horse this time around and arguably should have won three straight. On the strength of her two Kembla wins she was $3.10 favourite with TAB on Thursday for her Randwick task where Kerrin McEvoy has been booked to ride.

“I think it’s the dry tracks,’’ Widdup said.

“She has a few little niggly problems and we’ve had to manage her a bit but she copped a couple of soft tracks after she won on debut.

“I thought she’d definitely handle it but I don’t think she likes rain affected ground at all.

“She’s always had ability, you look at her trials and her first win.”

Two-year-old Fire Lane may not take her place in the Drinkwise Plate (1100m) against big guns Empire Of Japan and Platinum Jubilee as Widdup works out the best path to next month’s Magic Millions and he will make a race morning decision about the filly.

Stablemate Authentic Jewel will line up in the Grainshaker Australian Vodka Handicap (1200m) and Widdup hopes the front-running mare can bounce back after she finished at the tail in a similar race two weeks ago.

“The only excuse were the sectionals,’’ he said.

Ausbred Flirt wins at Kembla Grange on December 10

“She’s not an Everest horse, she can’t do it at both ends and the early sectionals told.

“It’s a little bit tricky trying to get that win out of her.

“She just needs things to go her way and we haven’t got that for a while. If she can get the first half slower than the second half then she’s a chance.”

Prior to her last start, Authentic Jewel was picked up in the last stride by Dehorned Unicorn at Rosehill.

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