Now operating in both NSW and Victoria, Widden Stud is home to a large and diverse stallion roster for 2022, catering to a broad spectrum of breeders with quality stallions priced to suit all budgets.
Champion sire Zoustar has top billing off the back of a stellar Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale where he produced the sale-topping colt from Solar Charged that sold for $3million to Tom Magnier.
Zoustar has had 97 yearlings sell in 2022 averaging over $435,000 including five individual million dollar lots proving himself in the very top bracket of elite commercial sires.
The best son of our ill-fated champion sire Northern Meteor, Zoustar has been Champion First, Second and Third Season Sire and is now well established as a premium source of stakes-winners.
He has left the winners of over $55million in prizemoney and consistently produces brilliant juveniles including this season’s high-class stakes-winning colts Millane and Brereton.
Zoustar stands at a fee of $198,000 inc. GST.
Given the success Widden has enjoyed with Zoustar the decision to stand his Group I placed and Group II winning son Zousain was an easy one and his stunning first foals last spring have vindicated that move.
“Physically, he’s a Zoustar clone. An easy Group winning 2YO and half a length from emulating his sire as a 3YO when running a close second in the Group I Golden Rose and Coolmore,” said Antony Thompson.
Given the soaring fortunes of Zoustar, whose first European bred two year-olds will race this year, and the sheer demand from mare owners, Zousain has been afforded a slight increase his year in his third season at stud after covering 214 mares last spring.
Young guns Trapeze Artist and Written By have made a great impression at the sales this year and their progeny have gone into the best stables in the country.
The Champion 3YO Colt of his generation and the best son of champion sire Snitzel, Trapeze Artist has had first crop yearlings have sell for $850k, $650k, $600k, $550k, $500k etc.
The Champion 2YO Colt of his generation by champion sire Written Tycoon, Written By has had first crop yearlings sell for $410k, $380k, $380k, $350k, $340k etc .
Written By is another young sire given a slight increase given his popularity at the sales with many good judges tipping early racetrack results from his stock in keeping with his profile and pedigree as a fast and precocious 2YO.
Trapeze Artist stands at $55,000 inc. GST and Written By at $27,500 inc. GST.
Revered stallion Not a Single Doubt has had his last yearlings sell this year and Widden Stud hope to secure this highly desirable sireline for the future in standing two of his fastest sons in Anders and Doubtland.
They both covered quality books in NSW and Victoria respectively last spring and there will be great anticipation surrounding the arrival of their first foals later this year.
Anders stands at $16,500 inc. GST in NSW and Doubtland at $16,500 inc. GST in Victoria.
New additions this spring come in the shape of Deep Field’s Group I winning son Portland Sky and the exciting Rebel Dane, who is the sire of Champion 2YO elect Fireburn from just a handful of runners.
A grand-son of Danehill from a daughter of More Than Ready (USA), Rebel Dane has earned the opportunity for commercial success and will get every opportunity to build on his amazing early results.
Both stallions Portland Sky and Rebel Dane are priced at $27,500 inc. GST.
Budget conscious breeders in NSW will find Stratum Star (Stratum) and Supido (Sebring) attractive options to breed to sons of champion sires that are already proven as sires of winners.
Stratum Star stands at $5,500 and Supido at $8,800 inc. GST.
Proven Group I sires Nicconi and Star Witness were well received in Victoria last spring and remain at the southern base in 2022.
Nicconi is one of three stallions this season to sit atop the Australian General Sires List with over $15million in earnings with his success driven by not one but two Group I winners in Nature Strip and Graceful Girl, while Star Witness is on track to sire 100 winners for the season for the fifth year in a row.
Nicconi stands at $22,000 inc. GST and Star Witness at $14,300 inc. GST.
For breeders looking to put some stamina into their stock Fiorente (IRE) (Monsun) and Russian Camelot (IRE ( Camelot) fill the bill, both of them by champion staying sires that have had proven success here in Australia.
Fiorente has two big crops of rising two and three year-olds that are sure to put his name in lights as they mature, while Russian Camelot covered 130 mares plus last spring with his first foals due later this year.
Fiorente stands at $9,900 and Russian Camelot at $22,000 inc. GST.
Another proven Group I sire in Victoria is Magnus, who will also sire over 100 winners this season including five stakes-winners and his yearlings this year have sold for up to $300k.
An evergreen favourite, Magnus stands at a fee of $16,500 inc. GST.
Up and coming speed sires Thronum (Snitzel) and National Defense (GB) (Invincible Spirit) round out the Victorian roster offering plenty of quality and potential upside at an affordable fee with their oldest progeny just two year-olds.
Thronum stands at $7,700 inc. GST and National Defense (GB) at $7,700 inc. GST.
