Group One Success for Widden

Group I racing in Australia for 2015/2016 has come to a close and once again Widden Stud have made their presence felt as the leading yearling consignor of Group I winners.

Widden Stud consigned Group I winners Yankee Rose, Stratum Star, Vanbrugh and Prized Icon, selling the first three with the latter passed in at Inglis Easter and retained to race by Gooree Stud.

Two year-old All American filly Yankee Rose was the quintessential Inglis Classic ‘saleyard gift’, snapped up from the Widden Stud draft for $10,000 by Darby Racing and sent to David Vandyke to train.

A brilliant winner of the Group I ATC Sires Produce Stakes and second in the Group I ATC Golden Slipper, Yankee Rose has won her lucky group of owners a whopping $1.5 million in prizemoney from just four starts.

Bred and sold by Widden Stud, Stratum Star was a $150,000 Magic Millions purchase for Rick Hore-Lacy, who transferred into the care of leading trainer Darren Weir after his first four starts.

A stakes-winner at three, the Stratum entire blossomed as a spring four year-old to win the Group I MRC Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and has amassed over $980,000 in prizemoney.

Foaled and raised at Widden for his breeder Mr Leung, Vanbrugh was a $100,000 Inglis Easter purchase for international bloodstock agent Mick Flanagan acting on behalf of US based owner/breeders Merriebelle Stable.

The Encosta de Lago colt won the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes for the Chris Waller stable and has won over $570,000 in prizemoney.

Widden Stud based sires also featured with Group I winners.

Sebring is the sire of Group I MRC Caulfield Stakes winner Criterion, ill-fated Northern Meteor left Speak Fondly, winner of the ATC Flight Stakes, and of course Stratum is the sire of Stratum Star.

Sebring and Stratum remain on the Widden roster for 2016, while Northern Meteor’s best son Zoustar returns from a sojourn with Woodside Park Stud in Victoria.