Cagney edges out stablemate in promising runs for Widdison

Cagney
Cagney capped off a great race for the Craig Widdison stable at Corowa in the Ray Skyes Memorial. Picture: BradleyPhotos

WODONGA-BASED trainer Craig Widdison has recorded a first and a third in the seventh race at Corowa after Cagney surged home late to take out the Ray Skyes Memorial over Brightly Goes and stablemate As Bad As Tyson.

Cagney was a drifting favourite after opening at $3.40, but the +310 winner at Crownbet.com.au defied the odds to run down Brightly Goes ($2.50 at Sportsbet.com.au) in the shadows of the post to record the third win of its nine race career.

The winner’s stablemate As Bad As Tyson rounded out the placings but did not return a dividend in a seven runner field.

Jockey Chelsea MacFarlane delivered a brilliant ride on the eventual winner, but the hoop was concerned Cagney would not see the requisite daylight to get to the post first.

“I was just thinking ‘don’t box me in’,” MacFarlane said.

“I was saying “oh, don’t do this to me” but once he saw that gap really open up he really kicked on at the 200m.”

Cagney now has a brilliant winning percentage of 33, and Widdison admitted he was always confident his elect would be the horse to beat on Tuesday.

Bet365

“He’s always been a horse with plenty of ability,” Widdison told HorseBetting.com.au.

“He has had his fair share of problems but the wet track today really brought the best out of him. He’s a lovely horse and hopefully we can keep him in one piece so we can push him further into the winter and find a few more heavy tracks.”

Widdison was also full of praise for stablemate As Bad As Tyson.

The trainer believes the four-year-old will take plenty out of the first-up run on a heavy track.

“I thought he went terrific,” he said.

“I had my eye on him in the run, I thought he was home when they sort of straightened for home but just first up on a heavy track probably told out fitness wise.

“But he’s only been beaten by just over a length and I thought he went terrific.”

While Cagney’s win was impressive, As Bad As Tyson’s ability to defy the lack of race fitness as well as less than ideal conditions buoyed the spirits of the trainer, who believes a big preparation could be in order for the gelding.

“Definitely,” Widdison said when asked if As Bad As Tyson takes a lot out of the run.

“He’s a really promising horse going forward and he’s fairly highly strung at different stages but he’s been good so far and I think he’s in for a pretty good prep.”

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