World News – UA – ‘You don’t dream that big’: Icebath fighters soar like eagles

It started with his horse Icebath winning at Randwick, and he hopes it ends with the release of the underdog mare Saturday, Golden Eagle in what would be a dream result for the jockey, the coach and the owners

– You don’t dream that big It’s not like we dream of a Golden Eagle, because it’s so new and fresh It somehow makes it more exciting, â € “ McGrath said

For every Chris Waller and Gai Waterhouse, who both have three runners in the Golden Eagle, there’s a Brad Widdup, Icebath’s trainer, trying to take the next step up the ladder.

McGrath and fellow owners, Simon and David Basheer and Tas Roufus, will mix it up with Sheikh Mohammed’s mighty Operation Godolphin, which also has three runners chasing the $ 7-5 million prize

– Even racing was fun for us Tuesday’s nerves [when the final field was decided] were the same we had before the race the previous Saturday, « McGrath said

– When we found out we were in the Golden Eagle, we were so excited because we realized we were in a race you’ve been dreaming of ??

Icebath was the last horse in the Golden Eagle field, and McGrath calls his team « the underdogs »

Widdup only trained a few years after working for the big stables

Their jockey, Tom Sherry, is originally from Ireland and started his apprenticeship in Australia just two years ago

– This is the best horse we’ve had We had a lot of horses between us that didn’t have a win on Saturday or a win at all, so getting to a race like this is amazing and really special, McGrath said

– For us all our disposable income goes into this We put everything we can in our horses, because we love it

Widdup told her owners he would be aiming for the Golden Eagle with Icebath early in preparation, but the spring had been frustrating until she pulled away with the final race last Saturday

It was the fifth round of a preparation strewn with bad luck and a few seconds, like much of his career, which took three wins and five minor places in 14 starts

– I find it hard to understand that I have a runner in a $ 7 million race We wanted to be here, but when you take a minute to sit down and think about it, it’s amazing, â ?? ?? Widdup said

I would have liked to aim higher with her sooner, but she just couldn’t find that win, so we went to Randwick last week thinking that if she can win it might be in the Eagle

– I’ve been racing long enough to know that these things can be about timing She left it late to show us what she can really do on a race day, but if she does it again who knows

– But I’m looking at the field above me and think I would like to have one of the other 17 horses in my stable

It will depend on Sherry, who has a booming reputation but is still learning her craft He didn’t think he would be there until last week before the race

– M Widdup told me if you could get her back in three places I could do it all over again next time I was lucky when I had three comebacks in one go and she dropped like a sprinter, at ???? Sherry said « I’ll take it over on Saturday

– I was lucky they stuck with me It means a lot to be in a race like the Golden Eagle I’m just trying to treat it like any other breed It’s a big deal for me ????

« We have a young kid riding her who is not afraid and rides well He has that enthusiasm about her and clicked with Icebath

« We have a coach in Brad who is looking for a breakthrough to bring him to the coach he will become We would love to give him

« I see the passion in him and the hard work he puts in. I want to see him be the next great trainer, and I hope this filly helps him do that on Saturday »

Golden eagle, horse racing, ice bath