Weight to determine Galaxy jockey for Jedibeel
Brad Widdup has two riders on standby to partner Jedibeel (NZ) (Savabeel) in this Saturday's Gr.1 The Galaxy (1100m) depending on what weight the sprinter is allotted.
Handicaps for the 1100 metre feature at Rosehill will be released on Tuesday and once Widdup knows what impost Jedibeel will carry, he will lock in a jockey.
"Depending on the weight, we've got Tommy (Berry) booked, or Alysha (Collett), so we've got two bites at the cherry there with jockeys," Widdup said.
"Hopefully he can draw a gate, and we'll go from there."
Jedibeel is among 25 entries for the A$1 million The Galaxy with star grey Briasa (Smart Missile), Gr.2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) winner Generosity (Divine Prophet), Beadman (Snitzel) and Grafterburners (Graff) among his potential rivals.
Jedibeel tackles The Galaxy second-up after finishing fourth from a wide draw in the Gr.1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 21.
He was also among nominations for Saturday's Gr.3 Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill, but Widdup opted to keep his powder dry and steer towards the major.
"I 'ummed and ahhed' about running (in the Maurice McCarten), but I thought, we're going to get into the Galaxy with an OK weight," he said.
"I had a good think about it, and we don't have to run him all the time. We just have to pick the right races."
Jedibeel finished ninth to Private Harry (Harry Angel) in The Galaxy 12 months ago when he drew an outside gate and got back in a leader dominated race.
His best result since then has been a photo finish second behind Libertad (Russian Revolution) in the Gr.2 Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm in May, but he is an eight-time winner and is proven over the Rosehill 1100-metre circuit.
Jedibeel was bred by Waikato Stud and is out of their unraced O’Reilly mare Starry, they offered Jedibeel during the National Weanling Sale on Gavelhouse Plus in 2020, where he was bought for $35,000 by Dengaroka Lodge in New South Wales.
Jedibeel was later purchased by Widdup as a yearling for $190,000 at the Sydney Classic Sale after fielding a phone call from Sydney businessman Mike Gregg.
Gregg races Jedibeel in the bumble bee colours of his Sydney University of NSW cricket club, along with his grandson Locky Sheridan. -RAS Newswire
