Photo: bradleyphotos.com.au
Lining up for his first start in 84 days, Jedibeel (Savabeel) collected the eighth and most important win of his promising career in Saturday’s A$500,000 Gr.2 Schweppes Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick.
The five-year-old Savabeel gelding scored his first black-type win in the Listed Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m) in December, and then trainer Brad Widdup elected to freshen him ahead of autumn targets. Saturday’s Challenge Stakes was his first start since, and he announced his return to racing in style.
Guided through a narrow opening in the straight by jockey Tyler Schiller, Jedibeel showed a brilliant turn of foot to charge home from off the pace and win by just over a length.
“Over a short distance and coming home in that time, I thought it would be pretty hard to pick up the leaders today, especially when they dash like that,” Schiller said. “But he's just a phenomenal horse at the moment.
“I was a bit nervous that James (McDonald, riding I Am Me) was trying to look for the same spot as me. But this horse has just got a great turn of foot, he's got a great racing pattern, he just lobs in behind the speed. He actually jumped really well today, but I didn't want to be too close.
“I thought James was the horse to follow and then I was getting a bit held up and it just helped him even more, because he's got that great dash. I thought he was really strong late.”
Jedibeel has now had 18 starts for eight wins, seven placings and A$816,150 in stakes.
“He's been a terrific horse from day one for us, and it's great to see him do this,” Widdup said. “We aimed at the Razor Sharp last time and gave him a short break to get him back for these sort of races.
“I was keen to run him next week, but if I did that, I'd miss out on the Galaxy (Gr.1 1100m), so I threw the cards on the table and rolled the dice today, and away we went.
“Tyler's always been a big believer that the Galaxy is a race we should be aiming at. He's got a massive turn of foot, and especially with a ride like that, where he can get out late and he finishes good.
“He's a winner. You know, these horses, they do it week in, week out. You can't train them, they just win, they're naturals.”
Jedibeel was bred by Waikato Stud and is out of their unraced O’Reilly mare Starry. The five-year-old gelding is one of five winners from six foals to race out of Starry – a group that also includes the Dunstan Feeds Stayers’ Championship (2400m) winner and multiple Group Three placegetter Starrybeel. But despite being a full-brother to that genuine stayer, there is also no shortage of speed in Jedibeel’s pedigree, which notably features multiple Group One winner I Wish I Win.
Waikato Stud offered Jedibeel during the National Weanling Sale on Gavelhouse Plus in 2020, where he was bought for $35,000 by Dengaroka Lodge in New South Wales. Jedibeel was later purchased by Widdup as a yearling for A$190,000 at the Sydney Classic Sale after fielding a phone call from Sydney businessman Mike Gregg.
Gregg races Jedibeel in the bumble-bee colours of his Sydney University of NSW cricket club, along with his grandson Locky Sheridan
