Widdup Eyeing Invitation for Ice Bath

Trainer Brad Widdup will aim his star mare Icebath (Sacred Falls-Fabulist, by Savabeel) at the newly announced The Invitation, reports punters.com.au. The rising 5YO mare is currently a $15 chance in The Invitation. “It definitely goes on the radar but you’ve got to be invited first,” Widdup said. “It’s a bit like the Kosciuszko. You’ve got to show you’re keen to run in the race and perform. Her record reads pretty good. I could plan this (if invited). Before, we scraped into the Golden Eagle and Doncaster. We were always ducking and diving in the past just to get a run in those big races. You’ve got to plan things a long way out.” Icebath came into this autumn having won three of her fifteen starts including second in the Golden Eagle back in October 2020, then ran in five group races over autumn, finishing third twice, fifth in the Gr1 Coolmore Classic, fourth in the Gr2 Emancipation and ending her season with a second in the Gr1 Doncaster Handicap behind Cascadian (). Widdup will aim Icebath at the Gr2 Golden Pendant, before running in the Gr1 Epsom, then hopefully The Invitation. “It fits in well. It’s three weeks after the Epsom which gives us enough time. A 21-day freshen up off a mile race works out perfect,” Widdup said. Icebath is a full-sister to group winner Courier Wonder, who was recently crowned Most Improved Horse at the Hong Kong Jockey Club Awards Night. Both Icebath and Courier Wonder are half-siblings to Listed winner Nowyousee (O’Reilly).