Two jockeys stand by for Brad Widdup’s sprinter Jedibeel in the upcoming Group 1 The Galaxy this Saturday, selected according to the allocated weight.
Tuesday brings the release of weights for the Rosehill 1100-metre event, enabling Widdup to appoint the rider for Jedibeel thereafter.
“Depending on the weight, we’ve got Tommy (Berry) booked, or Alysha (Collett), so we’ve got two bites at the cherry there with jockeys,” Widdup said.
“Hopefully he can draw a gate, and we’ll go from there.”
With 25 entries in the $1 million The Galaxy, Jedibeel could face star grey Briasa, Challenge Stakes conqueror Generosity, plus Beadman and Grafterburners.
Jedibeel enters The Galaxy on his second run, having been fourth wide-drawn in the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield February 21.
Nominated also for the Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill Saturday, Widdup preferred to conserve for the premier race.
“I ‘ummed and ahhed’ about running (in the Maurice McCarten), but I thought, we’re going to get into the Galaxy with an OK weight,” he said.
“I had a good think about it, and we don’t have to run him all the time. We just have to pick the right races.”
Twelve months back, Jedibeel was ninth to Private Harry in The Galaxy, caught wide and last in a leader-favouring contest.
His strongest follow-up was a thrilling second on the line to Libertad in Eagle Farm’s Victory Stakes (1200m) in May, with eight wins total and experience at Rosehill 1100 metres.
Widdup tasted Rosehill success Saturday as Audrey’s Lane won the Midway Handicap (1200m), opening doors to the April Provincial-Midway Championships at Randwick through Wyong on March 28.
The trainer weighed entering her, half-sister to 2014 Golden Slipper hero Mossfun, in Gosford’s March 14 qualifier but chose Rosehill first-up.
“We’ll look at Wyong,” Widdup said.
“I had her in at Gosford, I just didn’t think it was the right track, but the way she went (at Rosehill), it might have been.
“But we’ll take this. She is a well-bred mare and it’s great to see her win.”
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