The adjective vulpine isn’t as commonly used as you’d expect. Technically it means “relating to a fox” but can be used to describe a person or animal who’s crafty or cunning. According to trainer Brad Widdup the thoroughbred Vulpine couldn’t be better named. “She’s very talented but can be crafty on occasions,” he said. “We’ve discovered she hates being crowded in her races. If she leads she needs to be in front by herself, and if she’s back in the field she doesn’t like horses around her.
“Saturday’s Ortensia Stakes win at Scone was a perfect example. I got a shock when she jumped awkwardly and settled a good way back in the field. She’s normally a fast beginner and has led in all but two of her wins. Although in front of only two horses in the run, she had nothing on her outside and the pace was hot. Jay Ford brought her to the extreme outside while Eleven Eleven was being held up.”
Jay Ford made sure he gave Vulpine plenty of open air in the Ortensia. She's a field shy girl - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.
The five year old mare swooped on Mr. Mosaic and Ranges in the shadows of the post to win handily with Eleven Eleven a luckless fourth. The Widdup stable was also represented in the race by sixth placegetter Surreal Step who struck trouble in the straight. Vulpine’s CV is looking pretty impressive - seven wins and seven placings for over $606,000 in earnings. Five of those wins have been on metropolitan tracks with three at stakes level. With broodmare prices in another stratosphere currently, a triple stakes winning daughter of Snitzel becomes a very valuable commodity down the track. In the meantime, she’ll head to Queensland where the promise of wet tracks won’t present a problem.
“We can look at the listed Helen Coughlan Stakes, the Gr 2 Moreton Cup and the G 2 Dane Ripper Stakes,” says Brad. “Her post race recovery from the Ortensia and the way she travels to Brisbane will determine which way we’ll go. I haven’t dismissed the possibility of stretching her out to 1400m in the Tatt’s Tiara if she holds her form. She’s the ideal mare to take away from home because she’s very tough and usually gets better, deep into a preparation.”
The man who won races all over the world on Takeover Target! A listed race at Scone is a long way from Royal Ascot but Jay Ford was thrilled nevertheless - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.
Emerging singing star Robbie Dolan partnered Vulpine in her first stakes win at Randwick in March of last year. She “flew the lids” from the extreme outside gate in the Winona Girl Quality and crossed her rivals easily. She was never in danger from the 200m and comfortably accounted for Seasons and the odds on favourite Emanate in the Gr 3 event.
Her second black type win came last November when Jay Ford quickly found the front in the listed Starlight Stakes at Rosehill. Left alone in front she travelled generously throughout to beat Dream Circle and Tambo’s Mate. It was a different story in the Razor Sharp Quality at Randwick a few weeks later when Dawn Passage pestered her all the way to the turn. She lost interest to finish a distant second last of ten runners, and a similar thing happened in the Nudgee Stakes at Doomben on New Year’s day when she was annoyed throughout by Miami Fleiss. This time however she finished only three lengths from the winner Salateen in seventh spot.
Her attitude was entirely different two weeks later when she again led in the Magic Millions Fillies and Mares feature at Aquis Park. Snapdancer raced on her outside but didn’t “eyeball” her until they straightened for home. Because she’d controlled the race Vulpine remained focused right to the line to finish a good second to subsequent Gr 1 winner Snapdancer. Her prize money share was a very healthy $180,000.
The Snitzel mare was given a lengthy spell after the Gold Coast assignment and wasn’t sighted for some seventeen weeks. After two soft barrier trials she went into Saturday’s black type race on the fresh side. Galloping in clear air all the way, Vulpine was at her absolute best. “It was so good to see everything fall into place for her,” said Brad Widdup. “She’s a bit of a livewire and you’ve got to treat her accordingly. She’s a mare with a lovely economical action and a ferocious appetite. The further she gets into a preparation, the better she eats. Mares like Vulpine are in the minority.”
Jay Ford, Ben Vassallo (B K Racing Manager) and Brad Widdup after the Ortensia Stakes win - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.
The seven time winner is a member of a big team of horses owned by Brad and Kylie Hunt’s BK Racing and Breeding operation. The company horses are spread between the Sydney stables of Chris Waller, Joe Pride and Brad Widdup while Chris Munce looks after a number of Brisbane based horses. All BK horses race in the now familiar and visually attractive lime green and silver hoops with a matching cap.
The company’s extensive racing interests are managed by former jockey Ben Vassallo who quit the saddle eight years ago with 150 winners on his CV. “I spent the last two years of my apprenticeship with the late Guy Walter who supported me when opportunities were very scarce,” said the father of two. “I join with all those who regarded Guy as a very special human being. I’d gotten to know Brad Hunt fairly well after having ridden his horses in trackwork many times, but it still came as a surprise when he made me the job offer.”
“It’s a privilege to look after the buying and selling of BK racehorses and breeding stock, and to liaise with the trainers of the horses in work. It’s a huge thrill for all concerned when one of our team wins a race, especially a black type race like the Ortensia Stakes.”
Jay Ford knows Vulpine backwards. They combined to win the Starlight Stakes last November - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
Brad Widdup who has an obvious affinity with fillies and mares, regards Vulpine as the second best mare he’s had the pleasure to train. “Icebath of course reigns supreme with the amazing record of four wins and fourteen placings for $4.2 million,” says Brad. “It does my head in that she hasn’t won a Gr 1 yet. She’s been placed in two Doncasters, a Queen Of The Turf and a Cantala Stakes. She’s won a $2 million Invitation, but it’s not a Gr 1. Don’t forget her close second in a Golden Eagle. She’ll return to the stable on Monday week. That’s a touch early but she’s getting too fat too quickly. This year’s Invitation and the Epsom are her main spring goals.”
It was a $2million race but not a Gr. 1! Icebath wins the inaugural Invitation for Kerrin McEvoy - courtesy Bradley Photographers.
The winners have been flowing freely from Brad’s recently purchased Hawkesbury stables. Vulpine’s Ortensia Stakes success and Global Ausbred’s win at Newcastle on Saturday took the stable to 47 NSW wins for the season - sixteen of those have come in the last seven weeks.
Brad Widdup could easily have started training in his own right several years earlier than he did, but chose to continue working for established horsemen like Rod Craig, Brian Smith, Liam Birchley, Graham Rogerson, Kevin Moses and Peter Snowden. Brad, who spent the first twenty years of his life in Albury, still regards his trainer/father Pat Widdup as perhaps the best mentor he’s ever had. “Dad taught me little things about horses I still observe to this day,” said the dedicated horseman.
It’s hard to believe Brad Widdup has been training in his own right for just over five years. Despite a massive setback when he lost his principal owner in 2019, the forty eight year old has established a wholesome reputation as an accomplished trainer of thoroughbred horses. There’s not a soul in the racing world who wouldn’t be delighted to see Icebath and Brad Widdup share the spoils of a Gr 1 triumph come the spring.
(Banner image - Vulpine swoops on Mr Mosaic and Ranges to win the Ortensia - courtesy Steve Hart Photographics.)