Trainer Brad Widdup, often on the wrong side of close finishes, has secured a rare win in the stewards’ room with his improving mare, Mind Ya Bizz.
The four-year-old mare crossed the line second in Saturday’s Petaluma Handicap (1400m), trailing Transcend by a narrow half-head after a hard-fought battle.
Transcend pips Mind Ya Bizz on the line! pic.twitter.com/Vxnhbco93k
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) August 15, 2026
Following the race, jockey Zac Lloyd, who rode Mind Ya Bizz, lodged a protest against Tommy Berry, the rider of Transcend. Lloyd alleged that Transcend had made a ‘severe bump’ on his mount just before the finish line.
“I’ve nearly fallen off my horse,” Lloyd informed stewards. “My horse has definitely come off second best in the bump.”
Berry countered, stating that Transcend had approached from nearly two lengths behind Mind Ya Bizz and had the momentum. He told stewards, “I believe the rightful winner has won the race.”
However, the stewards, led by chief stipe Tom Moxon, disagreed. They described the contact as ‘heavy’ and upheld Lloyd’s objection, overturning the placings. Those looking for the best betting apps Australia would have faced an anxious wait before the result was overturned.
Widdup, who has experienced close defeats with horses like Icebath in major races such as the Golden Eagle, Doncaster Mile, and Cantala Stakes before her eventual win in the 2022 Empire Rose Stakes, expressed relief.
“You never want to win in the stewards’ room, but I think there was enough there,” Widdup commented. “There was a definite bump, and it was a close finish, so it was common sense.”
Mind Ya Bizz is a stable favourite, being a half-sister to Widdup’s former capable mare Tintookie, who tragically passed away in a race day fall during the Golden Slipper meeting two years prior.
He believes Mind Ya Bizz possesses significant family talent. Although the mare will now have a well-deserved break, she will be considered for the 2027 Provincial-Midway Championships.
“She’s still in that. If I can have those sort of bullets firing, we’ll have a look at it,” Widdup stated.
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