Widdup pair to gear for autumn

Group 1-winning trainer Brad Widdup has a handful of potential ‘Classic’ fillies stationed at his Hawkesbury digs, in 2023-24, two of whom head to Wyong on Tuesday for some additional seasoning ahead of the autumn.

Leading the way is the regally-bred Noble Tess who aims to build on her empathic Maiden win at Wyong on February 8 when she tackles her mandatory Class 1 over the same course and distance.

“She has taken a little while to put it together and she finally did the other day,’’ Widdup said. “This looks a good option now with the scratchings and it’s good to have Chad Schofield on as well, retaining the ride, so there is a bit of upside.

“We are trying to get her prizemoney up a bit so maybe we can hopefully look at the better fillies race coming up without aiming too high.

“It would be nice to try and find a bit of black-type for her somewhere but you need prizemoney to do that.’’

Noble Tess is already a valuable broodmare prospect for when the time comes. The filly was part of the 16th crop by the Australian Horse of the Year and Champion Sire Lonhro.

On top of that, Noble Tess is the ninth foal of her owner/ breeder John Cordina’s bonny mare - Gallant Tess.

A rare Australian-bred daughter of Galileo, Gallant Tess raced at the highest level in her 30 starts with five wins and 13 placings on her C.V.

The David Payne trained mare’s primary wins were the Group 2 ATC Chelmsford Stakes and Breeders’ Classic.

Gallant Tess is proving to be a worthwhile broodmare; her first foal Rock Hero wore his mum’s colours to victory in the 2013 Dulcify Quality with Chad Schofield’s father, Glyn in the saddle.

Noble Tess has company on the float to the Central Coast on Tuesday from her lightlyraced stablemate, Piplup.