Widden Stud Celebrate Group Three Win for Blue-Blood Mare

Widden Stud have been on a winning roll in recent months sharing in the ownership of Widden bred Group I winners Takedown and Stratum Star and were back in the winner’s circle again at Randwick on Monday with lightly raced Redoute’s Choice mare Zestful, winner of the Group III ATC Triscay Stakes.
Bred to Northern Hemisphere time, the Kris Lees trained Zestful gained minor Black Type last preparation and was fourth in the$500,000 Provincial Championships Final at Randwick.
The stable were looking to target that race again this year, but will have to raise their sights following her tenacious strong finishing win in the Triscay Stakes, her first Black Type success.
Zestful’s jockey Jason Collett described the mare’s win as “amazing” and said it wasn’t until the last 50 metres that he thought “I’m a chance here”.
Zestful arrived in the final few strides to defeat Nancy by a long-head in the 1200 metre sprint.
“I thought a cracking second or third was as good as it was going to get,” he said. “We were behind a wall of them.
“I dragged her back to the inside, I wasn’t balanced so she couldn’t have been balanced but as soon as she saw clear running she really dug in.
“As I said I didn’t think I’d get them but then the last 50 metres I thought we’re a chance.
“That was impressive.”
Initially trained by Sam Kavanagh, Zestful has now won five of 11 starts earning over $275,000 in prizemoney with more in store.
The 139th stakes-winner for champion sire Redoute’s Choice, Zestful was a $90,000 Magic Millions National Sale purchase from the draft of Bellerive Stud and runs for Widden Stud’s Antony Thompson and his good mate Paul Frampton.
A half-sister to Group III placed Zedazest and to the dam of Group II winner Military Rose, Zestful is one of eight winners from Zest, a half-sister to multiple Group I winner and leading sire Zeditave from the family of Group I stars such as Melito, Greys Inn and Norzita.
Current stakes-winning two year-old Pariah is another close relation and is also by Redoute’s Choice.
As a Group III winning blue-blooded daughter of champion sire Redoute’s Choice, Zestful is a highly appealing broodmare prospect for the future.