Trainer Brad Widdup keen to aim flying filly Left Field at next year’s Magic Millions

The speedy daughter of Deep Field will attempt to round out her preparation on a high note in the Precise Air Benchmark 78 Handicap (1300m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Trainer Brad Widdup is keen to make Left Field a Magic Millions contender. Picture: Jeremy Ng-Getty Images

Left Field could help Brad Widdup answer a lucrative question when the talented filly lines up for her in-form trainer at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Widdup is hoping Left Field can contest next year’s $1 million Magic Millions Fillies and Mares race on the Gold Coast and the filly can tick an important box for that race in the Precise Air Benchmark 78 Handicap (1300m). 

“She has always shown a hell of a lot of ability and I am trying her out at 1300m because she is a Magic Millions horse,” Widdup said.

“The Fillies and Mares race in January is 1300m so I just wanted to try her out over it while she is fit and well before I give her a bit of a break.

“I think she will eventually run the 1300m and 1400m strongly but I’ve deliberately kept her to shorter races this time and it’s worked.

“I am sort of going a bit blind going out to 1300m to see if she still has the same turn of foot as she has had over 1100m.”

Left Field heads to Rosehill in terrific form having returned from a six-week freshen up by running third in the Listed Denise’s Joy Stakes and second last start in Benchmark 72 grade.

A very promising filly!

Commemorative gets a listed victory to her name at Scone, taking out the Denise's Joy Stakes impressively.@ZacLloydx | @godolphinpic.twitter.com/B1abn03lPH

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) May 18, 2024

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Widdup inherited Left Field last year when Mark Newnham departed for Hong Kong and he admits it took some time to work the filly out.

“What I saw with her with Mark, I thought she would run a mile easy and I went gung-ho thinking she could,” Widdup said.

“I was working her that way and I soon worked out that I don’t think she can run a mile which was frustrating me a little bit.

“I spoke to (owner) Frank Mittaga and said I think we have to stop and keep her over short distances next start to see how she goes.

“She has had a terrific preparation without a lot of luck.”

Left Field is a $4.60 chance to salute this weekend with Kerrin McEvoy aboard. Chris Waller’s Demiana is a $4.20 favourite.

Originally published as Trainer Brad Widdup keen to aim flying filly Left Field at next year’s Magic Millions