‘This phone call was certainly different’: How trainer Brad Widdup hooked up with The Everest slotholder Michael Gregg and Mulberry Racing

Trainers are used to getting phone calls from prospective owners but rarely do they go as well as the one Brad Widdup received in late 2019.

Trainers are used to getting phone calls from prospective owners but rarely do they go as well as the one Brad Widdup received in late 2019.

Widdup’s phone rang out of the blue from an interested businessman looking to get involved in the industry as an owner.

The caller was Sydney billionaire businessman Michael Gregg.

“It was one in a million,” Widdup says.

“You get a lot of calls inquiring and for one reason or another, nothing comes of it.

“This phone call was certainly different.

“Like any owner, it can be luck of the draw and a lot of people go to the big trainers because they are successful and are in the paper all the time so that’s who they see.

“There are a lot of other good trainers out there that need clientele to show their wares.”

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Widdup’s Hawkesbury stable is not dominated by syndicators but he has consistent support from the likes of Frank Mittaga, Chris Lawler, Brad Hunt, Adrian Whittingham and John Cordina.

Gregg, who made his money as an early investor in Wisetech Global and private equity, is just the latest to throw his support behind the astute horseman.

His Mulberry Racing has been expanding its racing footprint, doing so with a relatively low profile.

That changed last month with the purchase of a slot in this year’s The Everest.

Mulberry Racing snapped up the slot left vacant by Star Entertainment and will pick a runner for the race for the first time when the $20 million feature takes centre stage again at Royal Randwick.

Mulberry Racing’s Michael Gregg.

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“People like him investing in the industry is important, we need new people,” Widdup said.

“That is what The Everest has done, it is bringing new investors into the industry and it’s exciting.

“Not only does it create interest in racing but in business as well.

“It’s a strong talking point and its creating interest away from racing.”

An obvious goal would be to see the Mulberry colours carried in The Everest with a horse they own.

Group 2 Challenge Stakes victor Jedibeel is an obvious candidate but would only take his place in the field if Widdup thought he’d be competitive.

Picking the right horse is the top priority.

“One day I am sure he would like to have his own horse but he is not going to put a Class 1 horse in The Everest and I am the same,” Widdup said.

“I don’t want to run a horse in The Everest and get beaten 25 lengths. I don’t think Jedibeel would get beat 25 lengths but he has raced against the one of the favourites Briasa and drawn bad gates both times.

“I am not going to talk up Jedibeel is an Everest horse or anything like that but he is not going to be far away.”

Jedibeel lets down and WINS the Challenge Stakes! 🏆@BWiddupRacing | @G1TySchilpic.twitter.com/1RRW8SkIdX

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 8, 2025

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Jedibeel went for a break after finishing eighth in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 in May but has returned to work to begin preparing for the spring.

“Jedibeel had a little break in Queensland but has come back,” Widdup said.

“I just have to be careful where I go with him. He may have to go to Melbourne.

“I don’t want to be pushing him against the good ones straight up.

“He is at that level now but there is plenty of races and nothing is set in concrete yet.”

All of Mulberry’s horses wear the bumblebee colours Gregg’s University Of NSW cricket club.

They will be back on show this weekend with two-year-old prospects Tequisoda, You’re The Choice and Gladstone Grande all acceptors in races at Gosford and Hawkesbury.

Emerging colt Nashville Jack, fourth in this year’s Silver Slipper, was a winner of a 900m trial at Rosehill Gardens and isn’t far away from a return to the races too.

There just a few of a pool of young horses that Widdup hopes can make their mark in the coming years.

“We have a lot of young horses and some will be good and others won’t,” Widdup said.

Trainer Brad Widdup. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

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“Nashville Jack is obviously the standout at this stage and is a very straightforward horse.

“He has a good attitude and action so hopefully he can keep improving.”

While Widdup has a plethora of young talent to look forward to, he will rely on one of his proven performers at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Tough galloper Phearson ($17) will be looking for a change of luck when he leads the stable’s assault in the Listed $200,000 Winter Challenge (1500m).

The seven-year-old hasn’t won since his Group 3 Liverpool City Cup victory last March but has been hampered by bad gates in recent starts and can bounce back to top form.

“Phearson is going as good as I’ve ever had him going but he’s not had any luck and keeps getting bad gates,” Widdup said.

“It’s not helping him but I am more than happy with the way he is going.

“The horse looks enormous.

“I am sure Tom (Sherry) will be confident. He knows the horse quite well and thinks it’s going well, just not getting the luck.”

“I wouldn’t be shocked if he won on Saturday, if he puts it together he is going good enough.”

Phearson leads the whole way to take out the final race at Randwick! @BWiddupRacingpic.twitter.com/GyUBE8wcgF

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 2, 2024

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Bella Khadijah ($15) will go in search of back-to-back victories when the daughter of Pierata contests the Stuart Macdermid Benchmark 72 Handicap (1500m).

The three-year-old filly was scratched from Wednesday’s meeting at Randwick Kensington in the same race her stablemate Hasty Honey scored in.

“The reason I split them up, she would have been a three-year-old filly carrying 60kg,” Widdup said.

“Hasty Honey was going well so I didn’t want smash her by doing that.

“You are going to Saturday grade but carrying three kilos less in a three-year-old race.

“She is going well. Is she going well enough to win? I am not sure.

“Mentally she is not there yet but she has ability to.”

Widdup is expecting another strong showing from Art’s Alive ($11) in the Myplates Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m) with Jay Ford aboard.

The daughter of Snitzel gave a sight at odds first-up when narrowly beaten by Hi Dubai in an 1100m event at the same track.

“Art’s Alive went terrific first-up and came through it good,” Widdup said.

“I can’t knock her at all and she should run well again.”