Wyong preview: In-form Widdup’s classical aspirants on show

In-form trainer Brad Widdup heads to Wyong on Tuesday armed with two exceedingly well-bred fillies who wouldn’t look out of place in a Guineas or Oaks before the season is out.

Promising filly Noble Tess could find herself on an Oaks path if she continues her winning ways at Wyong on Tuesday. Picture: Bradley Photos

Group One-winning trainer Brad Widdup has a handful of potential ‘Classic’ fillies stationed at his Hawkesbury digs, 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 emphatic 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 there for sure.

“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.”

Trainer Brad Widdup (right) is taking a couple of very promising fillies to Wyong on Tuesday. Picture: Getty Images

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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 throughout her 30 starts, with five wins and 13 placings on her CV.

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 the aforementioned Chad Schofield’s father, Glyn, in the saddle.

Gallant Tess, ridden by Jeff Lloyd, wins the Chelmsford Stakes at Royal Randwick in 2008. Picture: File

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

Widdup’s filly was tipped out after her short, sharp first campaign which comprised back-to-back fourths in good quality maidens at Hawkesbury and Gosford respectively.

“I wouldn’t say she exceeded our expectations but it was good to see her perform as well as what she did,” Widdup said.

“She was only beaten a couple of lengths in each run and they were both good efforts coming from back in the field.

“Piplup is a really nice filly. Hopefully she can stay, she has given her indication she can.

“Hopefully she can run a mile-and-a-half (2400m), being a three-year-old filly. I think she will definitely run 2000m.”

Trainer Brad Widdup. Picture: Jeremy Ng / Getty Images

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Piplup is well-equipped to run an Oaks trip. The Hawkesbury resident is by Randwick Guineas winner Inference who was also placed in a VRC Derby and Rosehill Guineas (behind Gingernuts).

To underline her stamina credentials, Piplup is blessed with a double-cross of the ultimate Classic-source, Sadler’s Wells.

Piplup was a much-admired lot at the HTBA May Yearling Sale, knocked down to Honeycomb Stud for $70,000

Piplup’s dam, Pipette, was foaled overseas but is well known to Australian players given her placings in the Darley Crown and Dark Jewel for Chris Waller and again, with Glyn Schofield riding in each.

As for Widdup, there won’t be a more in-form trainer walking the Wyong grounds come Tuesday.

Widdup has just led in three winners (from four starters) in the space of just two days at three different venues including the still-unbeaten Confess Our Dreams.