Like Father, Like Son

Like father like son, Northern Meteor’s best son Zoustar is delivering foals that are delighting breeders keen to pursue the legacy of a stallion that undoubtedly should have been one of our best.

Widden Stud’s former star sire Northern Meteor quickly established a reputation stamping him as a stallion of rare quality that was destined for the very top of the commercial tree.

“We know how good Northern Meteor was and how far he could have gone and in securing Zoustar, Widden and Woodside sought to continue his legacy with his very best son,” said Widden Stud’s Ryan McEvoy.

“From just three crops Northern Meteor has sired 10 Group I horses, almost 80% of his black type performers are stakes-winners, but Zoustar is his only Group winning colt at two and his only dual Group I winner at three. The best sons of the best sires historically do have great success at stud themselves.

“Constitution and temperament are what elevate a naturally talented horse into winning the races that count and Zoustar had those all-important attributes.”

In an exciting new initiative Widden and Woodside Stud will stand Zoustar in alternate seasons ensuring breeders from NSW and Victoria will have direct access to one of Australia’s most exciting young prospects.

“To stand a horse of the profile and talent as Zoustar is an enormous coup for Victorian breeders. Given he is a great type of horse, the support from commercial breeders has been fantastic and reflective of the outstanding book of mares he will cover here this season, ” said Woodside Park’s Matt Tillett.

“It’s an exciting time. In fact, the first four mares he covered this season were scanned this morning and all are in foal including Chance Bye and multiple Group winner Satinka. His fertility is incredible.”

Zoustar covered 185 mares last spring including star producers such as Listen Here (dam of Shooting to Win, Deep Field), Gold Anthem (dam of Starspangledbanner), Faster Pussycat( dam of SW’s Gai’s Choice, Peron and Atmospherical), also star racemares such as Our Egyptian Raine, Flying Snitzel, Solar Charged, Ballet Society, etc.

Mares in foal to Zoustar offered at the breeding stock sales earlier this year were hot property selling for up to $420,000 making him the ‘talk horse’ of the sales.

Respected studmasters such as Mick Malone (Kitchwin Hills), Royston Murphy (Sledmere), Peter O’Brien (Segenhoe), Mick Talty (Edinglassie), Wayne Bedggood (Cressfield) and Damien Gleeson (Phoenix Park) have been glowing in their praise of the Zoustar foals, so let’s take a look at some of these beautiful babes.

Filly Zoustar x Baby Corn – Kitchwin Hills

Filly Zoustar x Flying Snitzel – Widden

Filly Zoustar x Fuddle Dee Duddle – Widden

Colt Zoustar x Our Egyptian Raine – Cressfield

Colt Zoustar x Sunday Chill – Sledmere

Colt Zoustar x Pasar Silbano (IRE) – Edinglassie

Filly Zoustar x Palm Shade (GB) – Widden

Zoustar is currently serving his second season at Woodside Park Stud in Victoria at a fee of $44,000 and will return to Widden in 2016.