Jedibeel makes Melbourne debut at Flemington

Jedibeel will have his first start in Victoria in his 25-start career in the VRC Champions Sprint (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday. 

The six-year-old son of Cox Plate winner Savabeel has been taken through his grades by Widdup and is a dual winner at Stakes level. 

Successful in the Listed Razor Sharp Stakes (1200m) at Randwick last December, Jedibeel then went on to take out the Group 2 Challenge Stakes (1000m) at Randwick in March. 

Jedibeel has since gone on to contest three Group 1 sprint races but has finished in the back half of the field on each occasion. 

The gelding's most recent performance was in The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 18 where Jedibeel beat only one runner home. 

While Jedibeel had not been placed in his two lead up runs to the Everest, Widdup had been satisfied with the gelding's performances, although he decided against a start in the Russell Balding Stakes (1300m) at Randwick last Saturday. 

"He has been really good all preparation," Widdup said. 

"I had to scratch him from his first (scheduled) run but since then he's been good.  

"He ran great in The Everest, but last Saturday, he just drew awkwardly in the big field, and I didn't want to give him a waste of a run. 

"He gets a trip away to Melbourne now and we'll see what happens." 

Widdup said Jedibeel had done plenty of work on his Melbourne leg at Hawkesbury in preparation for Saturday, but racing down the straight is a different concern. 

"It should suit him," Widdup said. 

"He has worked the Victorian way quite a bit, but up the straight it is a bit different again, however he should be able to stalk them and if he can get out late, I'm sure he'll run on strongly."