BRAD’S PLEASURE AT GETTING SAVOONGA OFF THE MARK

Sunday, 02 Aug 2026
BRAD’S PLEASURE AT GETTING SAVOONGA OFF THE MARK

SUNDAY: August 2, 2026: EVERY trainer takes delight in any win – and Brad Widdup was especially pleased to clinch a breakthrough with Savoonga at Wyong today.

Hawkesbury’s leading trainer wasted no time getting off the mark in the new season following a benchmark 67 winners in the previous racing year which ended last Friday.

Brad took the Provincial Maiden Handicap (1350m) with Savoonga (Chad Schofield) at $3.90, at her sixth start.

A four-year-old daughter of North Pacific, the lightly-raced mare was bred by Davali Thoroughbreds and given to Brad when she didn’t reach her reserve at the 2024 Inglis Classic yearling sale.

“I liked her at the sale and was pleased when Davali asked me to train her,” he said this evening.

“Davali has been a good supporter of the stable, so it was very satisfying to win with this mare.

“Savoonga had six trials between March last year and January this year before she went to the races.

“She just wasn’t ready, and we had to be patient.

“I gave her four starts earlier this year and, whilst unplaced in all of them, she didn’t run badly.

“She has come back really well with a first-up second at Newcastle and today’s win, and I feel she will get up to at least a mile (1600m).

“Hopefully today’s breakthrough will give her confidence to keep improving.”

Whilst Brad scored with Savoonga, stablemates Seven Days ($1.50) and Vondel ($10) could not bring the same result in other races.

Seven Days ($1.50 favorite) ran fifth in the Class 1 Handicap (1100m), and Vondel ran fifth in Johnny Smash’s race.

The lengthy RacingNSW stewards’ report underscored Seven Days’ woes in running, and Vondel was held up for clear running from the 300m until near the 100m.

Meanwhile, Brad is very pleased with the progress of his quality mare Savvy Hallie, who will trial for a second time this preparation at Rosehill Gardens on Friday.

“Really happy with how she is going,” he said.

“Provided she trials as well as expected on Friday, she will resume at Royal Randwick on August 22.

“That will be in one of the two Group 3s; Show County Quality )1200m) or Toy Show Quality (1100m) against her own sex.”