Jedibeel (NZ) a Sydney Sprinting Star

Champion stallion Savabeel has sired countless top-class NZB graduates who excelled over 2000 metres and further, but Saturday's Group Two-winning sprinter Jedibeel (NZ) is something different.

Jedibeel was a $35,000 purchase from the 2020 National Weanling Sale. He triumphed in Saturday’s A$500,000 Group Two Schweppes Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick, which was the biggest win of an 18-start career that has produced eight wins, seven placings and A$816,150 in stakes.

Jedibeel scored his first black-type win in the Listed Razor Sharp Handicap (1200m) in December. Trainer Brad Widdup then elected to send him for a spell, saving him for autumn targets. That plan paid off with a brilliant first-up victory over 1000 metres on Saturday.

Guided through a narrow opening in the straight by jockey Tyler Schiller, Jedibeel showed a scintillating turn of foot to charge home from off the pace and win by just over a length.

“Over a short distance and coming home in that time, I thought it would be pretty hard to pick up the leaders today, especially when they dash like that,” Schiller said. “But he's just a phenomenal horse at the moment.

“This horse has just got a great turn of foot, he's got a great racing pattern, he just lobs in behind the speed. He actually jumped really well today, but I didn't want to be too close.

“I was getting a bit held up, but he’s got that great dash and I thought he was really strong late in the race.”

Widdup will now consider a tilt at the A$1m Group One The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on March 22.

“He's been a terrific horse from day one for us, and it's great to see him do this,” Widdup said. “We aimed at the Razor Sharp last time and gave him a short break to get him back for these sort of races.

“I was keen to run him next week, but if I did that, I'd miss out on the Galaxy, so I threw the cards on the table and rolled the dice today, and away we went.

“Tyler's always been a big believer that the Galaxy is a race we should be aiming at. He's got a massive turn of foot, and especially with a ride like that, where he can get out late and he finishes good.

“He's a winner. You know, these horses, they do it week in, week out. You can't train them, they just win, they're naturals.”

The 2025 National Weanling Sale is set to take place at NZB's iconic Karaka Sales Centre on Thursday 26 June.

All weanlings offered are eligible to be nominated for NZB’s lucrative Karaka Millions Series. Graduates can compete for a share in the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), followed by the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) as well as the $1m NZB Mega Maiden Bonus Series. 

Vendor	Waikato Stud Ltd
Purchaser	Dengaroka Lodge (New South Wales)
Breeding	Savabeel – Starry
Sale	Lot 33, 2020 National Weanling Sale, $35,000
Bred by	Waikato Stud Ltd