Weight allocation to pick Jedibeel's jockey in The Galaxy
Trainer Brad Widdup keeps two potential jockeys waiting to team up with Jedibeel for Saturday's Group 1 The Galaxy, hinging on the sprinter's handicap weight.
Handicaps for Rosehill's 1100-metre showcase will drop Tuesday, allowing Widdup to select the rider once Jedibeel's burden is set.
"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."
A total of 25 horses including Jedibeel have entered the $1 million The Galaxy, with threats such as prominent grey Briasa, Generosity from the Challenge Stakes, Beadman and Grafterburners in contention.
Jedibeel contests The Galaxy second-up following fourth from a tough draw in Caulfield's Oakleigh Plate (1100m) back on February 21.
Although entered for the Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill this weekend, Widdup held off to target the big one.
"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."
In last year's The Galaxy, Jedibeel ended ninth to Private Harry after a wide start and trailing in a front-runners' battle.
Since then his standout was a dead-heat second behind Libertad in Eagle Farm's Victory Stakes (1200m) during May, complemented by eight career wins and solid performances at Rosehill over 1100 metres.
Widdup notched a Rosehill success Saturday via Audrey's Lane's win in the Midway Handicap (1200m), securing qualification potential for Randwick's Provincial-Midway Championships in April via the March 28 Wyong event.
He mulled over the Gosford qualifier on March 14 for the Mossfun half-sister, 2014 Golden Slipper winner, opting for Rosehill on 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."
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