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Widdison duo to line up in Bendigo Gold Bracelet
Craig Widdison will have two runners in the $150,000 Gold Bracelet (1400m) at Bendigo on Saturday, with Sister Shay and Mahogany Girl representing the Wodonga stable.
The race is for mares, 4YO and up, and both of Widdison’s runners get in nicely, with Sister Shay (Harry Coffey, 56kg) drawing gate 6 and Mahagony Girl (Holly Durnan, 53kg) drawing gate 3.
Sister Shay has been a picture of consistency, starting 13 times and landing four wins and five minor placings.
Last time out, the 4YO Shamus Award mare led them up before running second in the 1400m Benchmark 66 Handicap at Sandown.
“She was going to one of the other races, but there were so many in it, and we thought that might generate a bit of speed which would go against her, so we went this way, and it’s worked out, and she is well in the market,” Widdison said.
“She just needs to get across without working so hard, and we expect her to run well.”
Stablemate Mohogany Girl will likely need the run, with the 7YO Mshawish mare second up from a spell.
A four-time winner in 14 starts, formerly trained by Darryll Kell, Mahogany Girl qualified for the 2025 $1 million Provincial Championships final after winning the Hawkesbury qualifier.
Already a mother, having foaled a Peltzer colt in 2023, Mahogany Girl is only lightly raced, and Widdison believes she’ll need another run or two under her belt before punters see her best.
“She’ll strip fitter and probably needs one more run,” he said.
“She’s quite a big mare and was probably fatter than I thought when she raced first-up, but she has come on heaps, being an older mare and having had a foal, she just needs a little more time.
“Don’t get me wrong, though, she can run, and we’ll see how she goes on Saturday and work out where we go from there.”
Widdison’s stable has been low flying in 2025/26, bringing up 19 winners.
With four runners across today and tomorrow’s Wagga Gold Cup carnival, Widdison has No Ordinary Show, Grey Lad, and Tutto Finiti in action on Thursday, along with Fourthtimelucky on Friday.
Fourthtimelucky takes on the 1300m Benchmark 58 Handicap, and with Cory Parish in the saddle, has drawn nicely with gate one.
“He’s finally drawn a barrier, and the last time he drew a good one, he won,” Widdison said.
“He’s been running well without luck from wide gates, so we’re pretty positive about his chances.”
Following meetings at Wagga and Bendigo, Widdison‘s attention turns to Wangaratta on Sunday, with Pure Warrior (Cory Parish, 57.5kg) contesting the 1300m Maiden Plate and last-start Deniliquin winner Fleet Destination (Ella Bent, 55.5kg) going around in the 1300m Benchmark 52 Handicap.
Words: Jeff Hanson
Image: Racing Photos
