Spring weather will be a pointer to Icebath’s targets

“Everything’s on the table” says Icebath’s trainer Brad Widdup but weather patterns in Sydney and Melbourne are likely to go a long way to deciding the mare’s spring targets.

The daughter of Sacred Falls is arguably Australia’s best non-Stakes winner having finished close seconds in this season’s Doncaster Mile and Golden Eagle.

Icebath has returned to work after a photo sent to her trainer had Widdup adjust his plans.

“One of the owners sent a photo to me and it made me change the plans, she was getting too big,” Widdup said.

“She’s did really well in the paddock, I actually brought her back in earlier than I’d planned to.

“She’s come back 40 kilos heavier than when she came in at the start of the autumn. Gives me plenty to work with.”

Widdup suggested “priority one is the win a black-type race with” Icebath and the mare’s “first grand final will be the Epsom” but he’s noncommittal to the lead-up path and post the feature Randwick mile on October 2.

Brad Widdup. Photo: Mark Evans/Getty Images.Source:Getty Images

“There are so many options for a mare like this,” he said.

“Because she hasn’t won a stakes race she’ll get in on the minimum in the set weights and penalties mares races so they are logical target races.

“Races like the Mona Lisa and the Tibbie and then you have the Golden Pendant the week before the Epsom.

“She’ll most likely run in the Golden Pendant because we know how effective she is on the back-up.

“After the Epsom she could go to Melbourne or maybe even stay in Sydney with races like The Gong.

“The smart way to play it will be to chase the rain so hopefully we get a wet spring.

“I just need to work out which way I go and we’ll worry about that as we get into the carnival.”

Originally published asIcebath: The spring storm chaser

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