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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Brad Widdup will use a short spring campaign to determine whether talented sprinter Jedibeel can be set for something serious in the new year.

There’s been a huge turnaround in the five-year-old in the last 12 months and Widdup has no doubt a lot of that is due to being gelded at the end of last year.

While he's always been consistent, since that gear change Jedibeel has rushed into open company, recording three wins and two seconds, and he’ll be out to improve on his stats in the Precise Air Choisir Handicap (1100m) at Randwick on Tuesday.

Trainer Brad Widdup (Pic: Bradley Photos).

“He’ll only have a short spring," he said.

"We’re looking at races like the Starlight, the Razor Sharp, the Warra, those sorts of races, seeing if we can jag one of them and get his benchmark up a bit.

“Then we’ll see where we’re at. I think if we can win another race or two we’ll see if we can sneak him into something with no weight.

“Fingers crossed he can be a really nice horse for us over the next six to 12 months.”

After a first-up win in a Benchmark 72 on Anzac Day, Jedibeel progressed through the grades quickly to win the July Sprint at Rosehill before a spell.

Widdup has a small word of warning about Jedibeel, $5 with TAB on Sunday, heading in to his return that there’s improvement to come out of whatever he does.

He has had the benefit of two barrier trials leading in, a formula that saw him successful first-up last preparation in easier company.

“To be fair he’s probably still carrying a bit of condition,’’ he said.

“He’s a sprinter and he’s a heavy set horse but I expect him to be racing well.

“Since he’s been gelded the horse has been excellent, and he has got better race smarts. We can ride him a bit quieter, he’s definitely getting better as he’s getting older.”

The Hawkesbury trainer is hoping consistent galloper High Dandy can offset another wide barrier in the $750,000 Little Dance (1600m).

The gelding had to contend with double figure barriers when a beaten favourite three starts ago at Rosehill and in his gallant Dubbo Cup second before sitting outside the lead and finishing fourth in the Wild Card behind Ducasse.

What he has in his favour is a natural on pace running style and Widdup said with the prizemoney on offer you have to roll the dice.

“It mightn’t be too bad being there, we don’t have to force him and he can just come across and he gets in with a good weight,’’ he said.

“These races, they’re great prizemoney an you’ve got to have a go.

“That’s what they are there for, and we’re lucky we’re racing in a consolation race for three quarters of a million. I like to support these races because we’re lucky to have them.”

All the fields, form and replays for Tuesday’s Big Dance meeting at Randwick