Ragazze Wins Another One For The Girls

Tuesday, 5 March 2019: Aptly-named filly Ragazze gave her all-female syndicate another huge thrill at Kembla Grange on Tuesday when she clinched her third win from only four starts.

Brad Widdup
Brad Widdup


Ragazze – it’s Italian for ‘girls’ - made the running and wouldn’t surrender in the straight to hold out favourite She’s Furline in the Class 2 (1200m) for fillies and mares.
Equally as delighted as Ragazze’s owners was trainer Brad Widdup, who broke an exasperating run of minor placings.
Since Junglized scored at Randwick on January 26Widdup has had eight minor placings including seven seconds.
“Great to get back into the winning list,” he said. “I have been happy with the way the horses have been racing, but things just haven’t gone our way.
“Ragazze is a gutsy filly and did a terrific job. She probably should be unbeaten.”
Ragazze, a $200,000 yearling purchase at the 2017 Magic Millions at the Gold Coast by Widdup’s major owner Damion Flower, did not race as a two-year-old.
She is raced by Flower’s wife Camilla, Widdup’s wife Milissa, Tamworth trainer Mel O’Gorman (who broke in the filly), Gail Rocks, Filomena Cipriani and Sonja Forte.
“Ragazze was one of the first yearlings to come to me at Platinum Park when I started training nearly two years ago but I have taken my time with her,” he said.
“She is a well bred filly, and whilst she has obviously come back well, I’ve got no doubt she will be even better next preparation.
“She hasn’t yet reached her full potential.”
Widdup is hoping to get her into some of the better three-year-old fillies’ races during next month’s Randwick autumn carnival.
His decision to book mature Canberra apprentice Billy Owen for the mount on Ragazze undoubtedly meant the difference between victory and defeat.
His 3kg allowance gave his filly a 3.5kg advantage over runner-up She’s Furline – and it proved decisive in a close finish.
If Widdup can secure some black type with Ragazze, it will certainly enhance her value as a broodmare when her racing career is over.
The Snitzel filly is out of Pravana, a Listed winner at Randwick and also Group 3 placed.
Her dam Pravda is a full sister to Milliyet, who produced the outstanding multiple G1 winner Samantha Miss (Redoute’s Choice), who in turn has produced G2 winner Miss Fabulass (Frankel).
Widdup’s joy at scoring with Ragazze was short-lived as two races later he was back in the second placegetter’s stall when favorite Schnapps was pipped on the post by Be Mindful in a Class 1.
Ragazze was Widdup’s 24th winner this season, and Hawkesbury’s 94th.




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