3 minute read
Widden announce 2020 roster with Zousain introduced at $19,800
Zoustar (Northern Meteor) will stand the 2020 season at Widden Stud for a reduced fee of $121,000 (inc GST) and will be joined on the roster by his superfast son Zousain, who will stand his first season at the Hunter Valley-based stud for $19,800 (inc GST).
Zoustar stood last season for a fee of $154,000 (inc GST) and all the other stallions on the farm's roster have had their fees shaved back which Antony Thompson said is reflective of the current global climate.
"We decided to cut back by 20 per cent and I think given the current climate it is a good time to be conservative," said Thompson. "We have had great support from breeders over the years and it is great to give back to them in a year like this.
"I think for us that was the case with all of the stallions, they are doing a great job, but we are aware of the environment they are in and we have tried to apply that across the board with all the stallions on the roster."
Zoustar has sired six stakes winners this term and has also enjoyed a good year in the sales ring with 70 of his progeny selling for an aggregate of $13,576,204 at an average of $193,945, while his most expensive yearling to sell was a colt for $1.1 million to Team Hawkes.
"I think with his best books to come, I think he will be a terrific option," said Thompson.
"His statistics to date shows he is a very, very important stallion, with such a big future. He gets a lovely sale type and he is a lovely young horse with excellent fertility.
"He will be extremely popular again and I think we will ensure another very high calibre again. With the reduction on his fee, it really just reflects the current market as opposed to anything else."
The son of Northern Meteor (Encosta De Lago) will be joined on the Widden Stud roster by his son Zousain.
A winner of the BRC Champagne Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m), Zousain finished agonisingly close seconds in three Group 1s, beaten narrowly by The Autumn Sun (Redoute's Choice) in the JJ Atkins (Gr 1, 1600m) and the Golden Rose Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) and only bettered by a daughter of Zoustar in Sunlight in the 2018 Coolmore Stud Stakes (registered as Ascot Vale Stakes) (Gr 1, 1200m) and Thompson said there has been good interest in their new recruit.
"He is a very good looking horse and you have to think he was very unlucky not to win a Group 1, having been just touched off in not just one Group 1, but three," said Thompson. "He is a really exciting addition to the roster and we have had good interest in him.
"We are offering lifetime breeding rights as we did last year to Written By and I'm sure they will be popular as well." Meanwhile, multiple Group 1-winning son of Snitzel (Redoute's Choice) Trapeze Artist will be offered to breeder's for a slightly reduced fee of $77,000 (inc GST) having stood his first year at stud last season for $88,000 (inc GST).
Nicconi (Bianconi) will stand for $27,500 (inc GST) in 2020, down from $38,500 (inc GST) in 2019. His exploits as a sire have been well advertised on the track this season by his superfast Group 1-winning son Nature Strip, who has already been snapped up by the TAB for The Everest (1200m).
Meanwhile, 2017 Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Written By (Written Tycoon) and Star Witness (Starcraft) will both stand for $22,000 (inc GST).
Written By stood his first season at stud last year for $24,750 (inc GST) whilst Group 1 producing sire Star Witness will be entering his tenth season at stud this year.
Stratum Star (Stratum), Supido (Sebring) and Your Song (Fastnet Rock) will command fees of $8,800 (inc GST) and the roster is completed by Outreach (Exceed And Excel) - who will stand for a fee of $5,500 (inc GST) in 2020.
