Widden Highlights from the 2023/24 Season

Dear Valued Clients & Supporters, 

The completion of the 2023/24 Australian racing season is an opportune time to reflect on what has been another brilliant season for Widden Stud and our valued clients.

Support from breeders drives the success and we should all celebrate these wonderful achievements and the results that have come our way. A big thank you to all the Widden supporters who have played a huge part in another tremendous season.     

The Widden brand continues to deliver on the race track and in the sales ring, and with our dual state rosters brimming with talented, well bred stallions, there is much to look forward to in the future.

Champion Second Season Sire

TRAPEZE ARTIST had his name etched into the coveted Australian Second Season Sire trophy, with 45 winners of 66 races and over $6.6m in progeny earnings. The aforementioned Group 1 winner GRIFF, and a Group 3 double on Day 1 of the Championships via DUCASSE and FACILE, helped secure the title for Trapeze Artist over high-profile pair The Autumn Sun and Justify.

Trapeze Artist is represented by 10 stakes performers and has the bases loaded for future success with 129 4YOs, 99 3YOs, 99 2YOs and 147 Yearlings to come through the ranks.

Not to be overshadowed, fellow second season sire WRITTEN BY posted an impressive 39 winners and over $3m in prizemoney, headed by 2YO Group 2 Silver Slipper winner STRAIGHT CHARGE and stakes winner and Group 1 placed RIPCORD.

Written By packed a punch at the sales too, with yearlings conceived off a $24,750 service fee hitting the mark at $700k, $400k, $330k, $260k etc. He averaged $430k at Easter!

It is worth noting that Written By has had the equal most juvenile stakes performers among all the second crop stallions and he’ll go into battle with 108 2YOs in 2024/25.

Zoustar Shines Bright

ZOUSTAR equalled the Australian record with 208 winners in a season and became just the second sire in history to record 200+ winners.

The pride of Widden hit the rarefied “double century” milestone in 2023/24 in an extraordinary season that also saw him break the Australian record for wins with 364!

ZOUSTAR amassed over $24m+ in progeny earnings, 17 Stakes winners, 27 Stakes wins, 4 Group 1 winners, 5 Group 1 wins, 29 Stakes horses, 208 winners and an Australian record 364 wins.

Impressively, the stallion led all comers by Winners, Stakes Winners, Group 1 Winners and 3YO Winners.

The handsome bay was Crowned Champion 3YO Stallion and remarkably he had 38 horses run an elite Timeform figure of at least 100 this season.
 
ZOUSTAR dominated the sale series as well, with SEVEN million dollar plus yearlings, grossing $41,230,000 and averaging $490,833 from 84 lots sold in 2024.

Nicconi 600 Winners

NICCONI sired his 600th career winner. Striking at an elite 73% winners to runners, he has 54 stakes horses and over $94.8m in progeny earnings.
Currently in the Top 12 sires in Australia by winners with 119 winners, $7m+ in earnings & 7 stakes performers in 2023/24.
 
Nicconi is the sire of 9-time Group 1 winner and World Champion NATURE STRIP, Group 1 winner GRACEFUL GIRL and a dozen more Group winners. He has covered 395 mares in his 3 seasons at Widden Victoria and his 2024 yearling sale results were excellent: $270k, $220k, $180k (twice), $115k, $110k (twice), $100k etc.
 
He is incredible value at $16,500 inc. GST

We derive great satisfaction from delivering results for our clients at auction – Widden had another bumper 2024 yearling sale series with an aggregate of $35,848,000.
 
Our Inglis Easter Yearling draft grossed a whopping $15,105,000, highlighted by a pair of Zoustar’s being knocked down for seven figures ($2.2m & $1.55m).
 
Not far behind, Widden’s Gold Coast consignment recorded an aggregate of $14,614,500, featuring lots selling for $1.7m and $1m, while boasting an impressive 87% clearance rate.
 
The sale of race mare C’Est Magique, a Zoustar half-sister to Champion 2YO Written By, for $1.7m on behalf of Neville Begg at Inglis Chairman’s was another seven-figure result of note from the farm.  
 
It was also great to see Widden’s freshman sires ANDERS (sold up to $330k), DIRTY WORK ($260k), DOUBTLAND ($220K) and RUSSIAN CAMELOT ($250k) all finding favour with buyers as well, with 46 yearlings by the quartet realising $100,000 or more.

The first crop runners of ANDERS, DIRTY WORK, DOUBTLAND and RUSSIAN CAMELOT will debut during the 2024/25 season. These stallions have been well supported by breeders, well found by buyers and their progeny find themselves with some of the best trainers in the land.

Exciting times ahead!

The first crop foals of PORTLAND SKY hit the ground to much delight. Weanlings sold up to $120,000 at the Australian Weanling Sale in Sydney and up to $90,000 at the Great Southern Sale in Melbourne. The ‘sky’s the limit’ for the 2025 yearling sale series.
 
Now, we eagerly await the first crop foals of dual Group 1 winner JACQUINOT and Snitzel’s ‘sale topping’ speed son BRUCKNER, after they covered 255 mares between them in 2023.

New Stallions

Exciting Group 1 winning 2YO KING COLORADO by the worldwide sire sensation Kingman (84 SW’s, inc. 12 Gr.1 winners) and out of a blue-blooded maternal family has joined the Widden Victoria roster. He will enjoy strong shareholder support from influential breeders.  

Breeder and owner Bert Vieira will heavily back his talented Deep Field sprinter SWEET RIDE as the new addition to Widden in NSW. A stakes performer at two, three and four, he won the Group 3 San Domenico and placed in Group 2 events behind the likes of In Secret and Best Of Bordeaux.

Group 1 Club

OVERSHARE joined the prestigious Group 1 producing sire club through the deeds of his star mare LADY LAGUNA in the Canterbury Stakes. 

Few studs can match the firepower of the Widden rosters, with an impressive SEVEN Group 1 producing stallions standing in 2024: GOLD STANDARD, NICCONI, OVERSHARE, REBEL DANE, STAR WITNESS, TRAPEZE ARTIST & ZOUSTAR. 

Ben Walsh was appointed Stud Manager after 4 years of mentoring from Widden stalwart, David Merrick. Ben has many years of international experience in his own right having worked in Ireland, America and Australia and has seamlessly transitioned into the main role.
 
David Merrick, who served as Widden’s Stud Manager since 1992, assumed the role of Bloodstock Consultant. David’s wealth of knowledge and decades of experience has been invaluable, providing strategic guidance and insights based on a lifetime in the industry and exceptional horsemanship skills.
 
Meanwhile, Widden Stud General Manager Derek Field celebrated 40 years at the farm. Derek’s commitment, wealth of knowledge & passion has been a driving force to the success of Widden. His dedication and determination to succeed are to be admired. Congratulations Derek!

Antony, Katie and the entire Widden team thank you for your loyal support and we look forward to enjoying an even bigger and better 2024/25 season!