Widden Sires Fire into Spring

 In 2017

On a day that featured smart wins for a number of lightly raced promising three year-olds, Widden Stud sires Sebring and Your Song chimed in with Gold Standard successful at Canterbury and Your Song’s first start Setoga saluting for Aquis Farm at the Sunshine Coast.

Prepared by Steven O’Dea, Setoga settled back in the field but charged home to win the 1000 metre maiden by a short head to become the 12th first crop winner for Your Song and his first of the new season. A $65,000 Magic Millions March Yearling Sale purchase from the River Junction draft, Setoga is a half-brother to Group III winner Polished Steel and stakes-winner Cariad being the fifth winner from Shower of Steel.

Your Song also had his promising winner Devolving resume from a spell at Canterbury in a strong fillies race won by Regimen. She raced greenly and wobbled wide on the turn before running on strongly for third in a performance that should have her back in winning form sooner rather than later. Opening his account with a stylish win at Canterbury was handsome chestnut Sebring colt Gold Standard, who is trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott for Mount Hallowell Stud in whose colours he runs.

Gold Standard was second on debut to highly rated colt Addictive Nature on July 19 and showed the benefit of that run when taking out this 1250 metre maiden by a length and a quarter. A $160,000 Inglis Premier purchase from the Eliza Park draft for Mount Hallowell Stud / Gai Waterhouse Racing / Julian Blaxland, Gold Standard is the third winner for brilliant Group III winning mare Coniston Gem.