‘Demolition job’: Widdup up front about the challenge for Jedibeel

2 hours ago 1

By Craig Kerry

September 19, 2025 — 5.00pm

Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup is under no illusion as to the task Jedibeel faces to prove he is worthy of a slot in the $20 million Everest.

Now, with his contender coming off a setback, a missed run, and facing a tougher first-up assignment on Saturday in the $1 million group 2 Shorts (1100m) at Randwick, Widdup fears Jedibeel could be denied the chance to shine in the late stages of the key Everest lead-up.

Jedibeel winning at Rosehill in July 2024.

Jedibeel was set to resume in the 1000m Concorde Stakes two weeks ago at Randwick, but was scratched on the Friday because of jarring in a hoof.

Although only a minor injury, it was a blow to Widdup and owner Mulberry Racing, the thoroughbred operation of billionaire Sydney businessman Michael Gregg, and the newest Everest slot-holder after winning the tender to take over from the embattled Star Entertainment in June.

The combination hoped to have their own horse in the richest race on turf, but Jedibeel, a two-time group 2 winner, needs to show he was up to the task.

The six-year-old, which has been unplaced in two group 1 attempts, had an exhibition gallop at Rosehill last Saturday, and Widdup was happy with the light hit-out and how he had recovered.

His main concern was not just the level of competition on Saturday, but the potential for the first two horses into this year’s Everest, Private Harry and Briasa, to have things their own way up front.

Widdup hoped Jedibeel ($17 Sportsbet) could find a handy midfield spot from gate six in the 10-horse race, and enough pressure could be put on likely leader Private Harry to make it a truly run race. Private Harry, from gate five, was the $2.20 Sportsbet favourite ahead of Briasa ($3.90) and another confirmed Everest runner, Joliestar ($5.50). All are first-up on the way to the October 18 showpiece at Randwick.

“The worry is if they let Private Harry dawdle along up front, it could be a demolition job,” Widdup said.

“If there’s no pressure and he and Briasa get an easy run, it’s going to make it hard.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy will ride Jedibeel on Saturday.

“But he’s good. He wouldn’t be running if he wasn’t, and that’s why we didn’t run him the other day.”

He was confident Jedibeel had done enough work to race well on Saturday. He had two trials with Saturday’s rider, Kerrin McEvoy, aboard leading into the Concorde.

“We were able to keep him going, and he’s only running over a short distance,” he said.

“If he was a miler starting over more ground, that would be a different story.

“It’s a hot race, and look, he probably can’t win it, but we just want to see him run well, and we can go from there.”

Mulberry Racing manager Lachlan Sheridan, the grandson of Gregg, told Sky Racing this week that if Jedibeel was disappointing on Saturday, they would likely look at other options to fill their Everest slot, but he was confident he would run well.

Widdup said there were plenty of other options, including the $2 million Everest consolation, the Sydney Stakes, to target if Jedibeel came up short of expectations.

“It’s basically see what happens, but the horse has to be in form,” he said.

“That’s from my side, not Mulberry’s. I don’t want to be running a horse in a race like that, just crawling to the line.

“He’s not far away, hopefully last time in, running at that [group 1] level has toughened him up a bit.”

Seven slots in the 12-horse Everest have been filled.