Two weeks week’s into his 11th season at Widden Stud, the 2005 Group 1 Golden Slipper hero Stratum had a heart attack and died in his paddock.
He had already covered 22 mares and 15 of those had live foals, two of which were sold on the first two days at the Magic Millions.
So, his final full crop are two-year-olds this season and he has a likely type in Czarson who puts his unbeaten record on the line in Saturday’s $2 million Magic Millions Classic (RL) on the Gold Coast.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained colt kick-started his career with an authoritative win over Godolphin’s Magic Millions hope
A fortnight later he led all the way over 1200 metres at Rosehill to defeat Kiamichi by two lengths with the $1.5 million Redoute’s Choice colt a further three lengths back in third.
His five weeks break from racing should not be a problem, but Tim Clark will need all his skills to overcome barrier 15.
A $200,000 purchase by PL Bloodstock out of the Amarina Farm draft at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Czarson (pictured as a yearling ) is the first foal of the talented Show A Heart mare Wobbly Boots who won five of her 10 starts.
A half-sister to the stakes-placed Aqua Vite (Northern Meteor), Wobbly Boots' dam Piquette (Grand Lodge) is a half-sister to Group 1 George Main Stakes winner Mr Celebrity (Peintre Celebre) whose dam Lamora (Marscay) is a sister to stakes-winner
It is the family descending from T J Smith’s Group 1 VRC Oaks winner Kiss Me Cait (Showdown).