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By John Curtis

Brad Widdup returned home last night from Newcastle with a “double” – a winner on the track and the Max Lees Medal.

Hawkesbury’s leading trainer was delighted to get a breakthrough with well-bred mare Youthfull, who opened her four-year-old season with an authoritative victory in the Provincial Maiden Handicap (1600m).

And he finally was presented with the Max Lees Medal, which is awarded annually by Newcastle Jockey Club to the trainer with the best strike rate during a season.

Hawkesbury-based trainer Brad Widdup. Image by Bradley Photographers

Widdup’s 14 winners from 51 starters at Broeadow last season clinched him the medal with a strike rate of 3.64.

Youthfull, a daughter of international star and successful sire So You Think, was a $375,000 yearling purchase for BK Racing & Breeding at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling sale, and is a younger sister to 2018 Group 1 Rosehill Guineas winner D’Argento.

She was having her 10th start yesterday – and first since April – and proved a class above her rivals.

Given a great run just off the pace by Mitchell Bell, Youthfull ($2.20 favourite) stretched out strongly over the last 200m to score by more than four lengths from World Atlas ($5.50) and Gripping ($5).

“It was the perfect race to kick off her campaign,” Widdup said. “We didn’t have to worry about taking on Sydney maidens.

“It was very pleasing to get a win with Youthfull for BK Racing & Breeding and their racing manager Ben Vassallo, who have been and continue to be great ers of the stable.”

With such a good pedigree, Widdup gave Youthfull the chance to earn some black type last season when he ran her in races such as the Group 3 Kembla Grange Classic (1600m), Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (1850m),and Group 1 ATC Oaks (2400m) during the autumn.

Whilst she wasn’t able to achieve that, he turned her out after the Oaks on April 9 at Royal Randwick, knowing she still had further maturing to do.

“She still isn’t fully there, but I knew she was ready to run well first-up today in such a suitable race,” Widdup said.

“There was no point starting her in anything shorter than the 1600m. I’m confident she will manage up to at least 2000m.”