Racing
Hawkesbury News: 17th December, 2025
They' re all entitled to an off day!
Leading Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup was at a loss to explain Tequila Baby 's defeat at Warwick Farm a fortnight ago.
But the four-year-old mare regained her best form at the same track today to post her fourth win from 10 starts.
Ridden by leading apprentice Braith Nock – who has been aboard at her last three runs – Tequila Baby ($8) raced up on the pace and gamely overhauled Kimberley Secrets ($3.90) to take the Benchmark 72 Handicap (1200m) for mares four-year-old and upwards.
Tequila Baby's latest city wins were interspersed by a below par ninth as a $3.60 favorite in a Benchmark 72 Handicap (1200m) for three-year-olds and upwards.
"I don't know what happened that day; it was out of character for her," Widdup said this evening.
"However she had done well and worked well since, so I didn't hesitate to go back to the races with her.
"It was a good win. She found the line well and is putting together a nice record.
"Tequila Baby is the first horse I have trained for Murray Shaw."
Tequila Baby was Widdup's 29th winner of the season, and the Hawkesbury training base's 76th.
Meanwhile, Widdup is targeting next month's $3m Sunlight Plate (1000m) – won earlier this year by Private Harry – at the Gold Coast, with two of his talented young horses.
The Sunlight will be run on the first day of the Magic Millions carnival as a twilight meeting on January 10.
He is readying both Savvy Hallie and Nashville Jack for the Sunlight, which is run as a slot race along similar lines to The Everest (1200m) at Royal Randwick.
"Savvy Hallie will run under the B2B Thoroughbreds slot, and Nashville Jack under the Mulberry Racing slot," Widdup said.
"I'm looking to run both of them first-up at the Gold Coast.
"They have each trialled once already, and will trial again going into the Sunlight."
Savvy Hallie, a three-year-old filly, won first-up in a 3YO Maiden Plate (900m) at Newcastle on August 14 before taking the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) against her own sex at Royal Randwick nine days later.
She finished a close fifth in a 799m trial at Warwick Farm on December 8.
Nashville Jack, also a three-year-old, has faced the starter only four times.
He won a 2YO Handicap (1100m) at Randwick on July 26 before finishing fourth to Skyhook in the Listed Rosebud (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens on August 16.
Farnan colt Nashville Jack was a close third to this year's Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner O' Ole in a Canterbury 895m trial on December 2.
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