Another Star from the Valley of Champions

Having produced the winners of 10% of the Group I races run in Australia last season, it was no surprise to see another representative sporting Widden’s famous ‘JT2’ brand race to Group I victory at Caulfield last Saturday.

Bred, foaled, raised and sold by Widden Stud, talented Stratum entire Stratum Star matched strides with the best three year-olds of his generation last season finishing third in the Group I VRC Australian Guineas to Wandjina and Alpine Eagle with Kermadec in fourth place.

Turned out in top order by Darren Weir, he confirmed his Group I potential when taking out the Group I MRC Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, a race won back in 2007 by another Widden Stud product in Bon Hoffa.

A $165,000 Magic Millions purchase for Rick Hore-Lacy, who prepared him for his first four starts, Stratum Star has the overall record of four wins and nine placings from 18 starts with prizemoney topping $640,000.

A half-brother to this season’s Group II placed three year-old filly Serenade, Stratum Star is the first foal of Pins mare Purely Spectacular, a full sister to stakes-winner Raid from the family of champion mare Emancipation.

“He was a good sized maiden foal (56kg) and always a very eye-catching flashy youngster,” recalled Antony Thompson.

Purely Spectacular has a two year-old Star Witness filly that has been broken in and will be trained by Danny O’Brien and another yearling Star Witness filly that will be retained to race.

Purely Spectacular was sold earlier this year at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for $300,000 to Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock and will foal later this spring to Stratum.

Stratum Star joins Crystal Lily, Streama and Southern Lord as the fourth Group I winner for Stratum, who stands this spring at a fee of $33,000.

“With just six crops to have raced Stratum has sired some 65 stakes horses, averaging over 10% stakes horses per crop,” said Antony Thompson.

“As a Champion 1st and 2nd season sire, Champion Australian 2yo sire and consistent Australian Top 10 sire, the Golden Slipper winner regularly sires over 100 winners every season.

“He has sired Golden Slipper winners, Group I winners over 1400m, 1600m, 2000m and even Group I winners over the classic distances. His versatility is his trademark.

“With yearlings this year fetching up $620,000 we feel his fee of $33,000 is exceptional value for one of the true, proven, commercial stallions at stud in Australia.”