Widden Sires Quinella G2 Silver Slipper
Written By was a dominant winner of the 2018 Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes before retiring to stand at Widden Stud and he featured on Saturday with with an exciting new stakes-winner when quality colt Straight Charge led all the way to win the $300,000 Group II ATC Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m).
Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Straight Charge was narrowly beaten by his stablemate Espionage on debut in the Group III ATC Breeders Plate last spring, but was able to turn the tables on the son of Zoustar in this assignment to give Widden sires a Group race quinella.
He jumped smoothly for Tim Clark from a wide gate and worked forward to cross and lead while his arch rival Espionage was content to hand up the role of leader and take a trail behind him.
Straight Charge kicked strongly to the line and held off a determined bid from Espionage to win by a length with both colts headed for a rematch in the Group II ATC Todman Stakes in two weeks time, enroute to the Golden Slipper.
The @GaiWaterhouse1-Bott stable wins another 2YO race and this time it’s the TAB Silver Slipper! @clarkyhk dominates the race on Straight Charge 💪 pic.twitter.com/OGnRJiyzw4
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 24, 2024
“He’s always shown that natural brilliance and it’s good to see him bring that back today off a setback last preparation,” said Adrian Bott, referring to his aborted Magic Millions campaign due to an elevated temperature.
“He’s done it in great order and I think he enjoyed that little bit of cut in the ground.
“I’m very proud of both colts and obviously the winner was very impressive. Both colts are on the exact same path now going to the Todman Stakes in two weeks over 1200m and that should have them fit and ready for their grand final in the Golden Slipper.”
A $270,000 Magic Millions purchase from Lime Country Thoroughbreds for Yulong, he was a successful pinhook having been bought originally from the Twin Hills draft at the Inglis Weanling Sale for $160,000 by Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Pegasus Bloodstock.
Bred by Scott and Cathy Robertson, Straight Charge is the second foal and second winner from placed I Am Invincible mare Matryoshka. Written By looked a logical choice for Matryoshka as she is a half-sister to Written Tycoon’s Group II winning speedball, Winning Rupert, and his high-class sister Tycoon Evie, winner of the Group III BRC Pam O’Neill Stakes.
She has no yearling for the 2024 sales, but produced another colt by Written By last year and then had a big upgrade to be covered by Widden Stud’s champion sire Zoustar and appears to be in foal.
Straight Charge is the third stakes-winner for Written By, whose oldest progeny are three year-olds.
