Widden Stud Celebrate G1 Success with The Next Episode
Widden Stud enjoyed the dream result at Flemington on Saturday when super talented colt The Next Episode captured the $2million Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).
The equal most expensive yearling by champion sire Snitzel ever sold, $2.8million Magic Millions purchase The Next Episode was co-bred and sold by Widden Stud.
Trained by Ciaron Maher, The Next Episode started favourite off the back of a first up win in the Group II VRC Danehill Stakes at the start of the month and while that win was on a heavy 9, he produced the same acceleration today on a good surface.
Ridden by Mark Zahra, The Next Episode settled off the pace and swooped home late to beat the Chris Waller trained St Gotthard, who has taken the role of bridesmaid this spring having run second to Warwoven in both the Group II ATC Run to the Rose and Group I ATC Golden Rose.
Mark Zahra is now two for two on The Next Episode.
“He actually travelled quite stronger than the other day. The other day he was a bit lackadaisical, but today I travelled really strong and I could see J-Mac on the inside,” he said.
“And actually when I went he dropped him really quick and the leaders stopped and he had a good look around, but then when he felt the other horse on the inside I picked him up and he went away it was a great victory.”
With five wins and a placing from seven starts and prizemoney of $2.1million, The Next Episode has assured his future place on the Widden Stud roster.
“When you’ve got a colt with a record like he does, these are the stallion making races and you’ve got to perform on the big days. I was confident he was ready, the team and Jack have done a super job from Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, just can’t thank them enough,” said Ciaron Maher.
“I thank all the owners, he races in Phil Cunningham’s colours, it’s his first horse in Australia, I’m sure he’d be ready to buy a few more this year, plenty of other mates in the horse as well,
“Antony Thompson bred the horse, he’s absolutely stoked and so am I, it doesn’t get much bigger than that.
“You want the pressure. That’s what we get up in the morning for, to have a horse good enough to feel the pressure. He’s a ripper and I think he’s only going to get better as he gets older.”
Bred in partnership by Widden, who retain a share in his ownership, The Next Episode runs for a syndicate of stable clients and carries the colours of his UK based part-owner Phil Cunningham.
Antony Thompson will look forward to welcoming The Next Episode back to Widden in the future, but for now there is more racing to come.
“It’s an enormous relief as much as anything,” said Thompson.
“Obviously, it’s been the plan from day one, and to Ciaron’s credit, he’s always said this is the horse for the Coolmore, and everything was built around that and he never deviated from that.
“Laser-like focus from Ciaron and the team and just so exciting to see it come together.
“We were lucky enough that Ciaron came back afterwards and said we could stay in the ownership as we did with Paul Frampton, myself and Bill Betar, who bred him together.
“We’ve retained a good share in him and it’s such a privilege to be involved in such a horse like this.
“Certainly, the intention is that he will come back to Widden and that’s certainly the plan, but we’re talking Ascot and Everests and who knows. There is a lot in front of him.”
The Next Episode is a half-brother to Group III placed winner Price Tag and they are the first two foals from Group III winning Denman mare Humma Humma, a half-sister to stakes-winner Tycoon Humma.
Humma Humma was bought for $1million by Widden Stud off the track at the 2021 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale and has produced four foals in a row before missing last spring.
She has a yearling filly by Zoustar and is now back foal to him again.
Widden Stud sold a yearling I Am Invincible colt from Humma Humma at Inglis Easter this year for $600,000 to McEvoy Mitchell Racing Pty Ltd / Belmont Bloodstock.
