Brad Widdup has riders Tommy Berry and Alysha Collett ready to ride Jedibeel in this Saturday’s Group 1 The Galaxy based on the weight assigned to the speedy galloper.
The handicaps for the 1100-metre highlight at Rosehill come out on Tuesday, after which Widdup will confirm the jockey once Jedibeel’s weight is known.
“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 heads a field of 25 entries for the $1 million The Galaxy, facing possible opponents like star grey Briasa, Challenge Stakes victor Generosity, Beadman and Grafterburners.
The horse takes on The Galaxy on second-up after a fourth placing from a wide barrier in the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 21.
Jedibeel was nominated for Saturday’s Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill, though Widdup chose to hold back and aim for the richer prize.
“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.”
Last year Jedibeel ran ninth behind Private Harry in The Galaxy after starting from a wide gate and settling back in a pace-on affair.
His top effort afterwards was a narrow second to Libertad in the Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm in May, yet he boasts eight victories and has form over Rosehill’s 1100-metre course.
On Saturday Widdup celebrated at Rosehill as Audrey’s Lane claimed the Midway Handicap (1200m), earning a chance at the Provincial-Midway Championships at Randwick in April through a Wyong qualifier on March 28.
The trainer considered entering the half-sister to 2014 Golden Slipper winner Mossfun in the Gosford heat on March 14 but went with a Rosehill debut.
“We’ll look at Wyong,” Widdup said.
“I had her in at Gosford, I just didn’t think it was the right track, but the way she went (at Rosehill), it might have been.
“But we’ll take this. She is a well-bred mare and it’s great to see her win.”
Check out the latest Australian betting sites for the best racing odds on The Galaxy this weekend.