Hawkesbury trainer Brad Widdup has Kiwi-bred mare Icebath right where he wants her ahead of Saturday’s Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick.
A winner of three races, the daughter of Sacred Falls has run well in all three starts this campaign and connections will be hoping she goes one better than the last time when seen over the Randwick mile, finishing a narrow runner-up in the Gr.1 Doncaster Handicap.
“I hope she can run well,” Widdup said. “She is in terrific order. Obviously a bit of rain will help her but I couldn’t be happier with her.
“I’ve had a very good preparation with her without getting a win.
“I would have liked to have got a result along the way but, other than that, it has been the plan the whole way through to back-up into the Epsom. I think she is cherry ripe for it, her run last week suggests it.”
Icebath, who finished fourth in last Saturday’s Gr.2 Golden Pendant (1400m), has drawn gate 14 in the 17 horse Epsom field and has the services of Robbie Dolan who will ride at 52kgs.
“There are a few of the hot pots around us,” Widdup said. “Mo’unga, Cascaidan, Atishu – if we can get on the back of one of them it will take us a long way anyway. We have to try and get on the back of the right horse and go from there.”
Safely out of Saturday’s race Widdup is hopeful of an invite to contest the inaugural running of the A$2 million The Invitation (1400m) at Randwick on October 23.
