1 hour ago
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John Schell
July 29, 2026 — 5:00pm
The winning run of Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup is set to continue at Illawarra Grange on Thursday when he sends around four leading contenders on the inside circuit at Kembla Grange.
Widdup has been enjoying good success and will bank on the Kerrin McEvoy-ridden pair of Anthropoid and Avon Calling continuing the form when they line up in the Radical Media Maiden Handicap (1200m) and Jockeys Celebration Day 3YO Maiden Plate (1150m) respectively.
Anthropoid is a Prague two-year-old resuming after two trials and tackled Group 3 grade at the end of his last campaign. He was scratched from a Kensington start on Wednesday.
Avon Calling is a three-year-old filly by Golden Slipper winning stallion Farnan and resumed from a spell with a third at Gosford on July 9.
“She’s a filly that has shown us a bit of talent,” said Widdup.
“She was placed at Canterbury at her second start in a race at Canterbury in January and she trialled well twice before resuming with her last start third behind Tigroni at Gosford.”
Widdup will link with jockey Zac Lloyd when he starts Ausbred Hed’n’tail in the Pacific Plan Management Class 1 Handicap (1150m).
Ausbred Hed’n’tail was a heavily backed odds-on favourite when scoring a debut win at Gosford in February and was then beaten less than a length when finishing fourth at Wyong later that same month.
“He’s shown his share of ability in his two starts and it’s exciting to have him back at the races and I can’t wait to see what he can do,” Widdup said.
Widdup will round out the day at Illawarra Grange when Sneaky Choice resumes from a spell in the Lexy Get Well Provincial Benchmark 68 Handicap (1200m) with Tommy Berry doing the steering.
Sneaky Choice is an Extreme Choice mare that has won three of eight starts and scored in her latest two starts at Kembla Grange in February and March of this year before being spelled.
“Tommy [Berry] has a good affinity with her having won the last two starts on her before her break and she can sprint well fresh,” said Widdup.
Supplied by Racing NSW
