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Father and son-training team go to $1.1 million for colt.
The brother to three-time Group 1 winner Sunlight (Zoustar) will join the Hawkes stable after they forked out $1.1 million for the colt on the first day of the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale on Tuesday.
On paper the Widden Stud-consigned colt looked to be one of the highlight lots catalogued over the two days of trade and he did not disappoint late on in the afternoon.
Catalogued as Lot 212, the colt is out of Group 3-winning mare Solar Charged (Charge Forward), who has produced four winners and has proved time and time again she is match made in heaven with Widden Stud's resident sire Zoustar (Northern Meteor) - producing two stakes winners when mated with the stallion; the aforementioned Sunlight and Group 3 winner Sisstar.
Solar Charged herself is a half-sister to Listed scorer Causeway Queen (Giant's Causeway).
Widden Stud's Antony Thompson described the result as 'a relief' and said they had always held the youngster in high-regard from the day he was born.
"It's a huge relief," said Thompson. "From the moment this guy was born we always thought he was a $1 million colt and the journey that goes with that has been a rollercoaster ride, especially in the last few weeks. But for him to realise $1.1 million in this current market is a really stunning result and we are really thrilled.
"For ourselves, Sheikh Fahad and Qatar Racing, who bred the colt in partnership with us and Dan Fletcher in Queensland it is a great thrill."
Thompson was quick to pay tribute to Solar Charged, who Widden Stud and Qatar Racing paired up to purchase for $625,000 at the 2014 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale and her progeny have now made the farm $3,000,000.
"We have had an incredible journey with Solar Charged - it's been a life changing to buy that one mare and send her to your stallion and have this great journey," said Thompson. "It's been so much fun and a wonderful ride."
Despite being pleased with the result, Thompson did lament the fact that the Widden staff were unable to show-off the draft in the ring at Riverside.
"We had about 50-60 farm parades, which is good but compare that with 150-200 at the Riverside complex," said Thompson. "All the people who came and did the legwork were serious buyers, they have done the lists and done the work and miles.
"The team at home have worked hard, it is just a shame they couldn't be there at the Inglis complex to lead this beautiful colt through the ring - you really do feel for the guys and girls on the farm not being able to show off these beautiful yearlings."
Meanwhile, Wayne Hawkes said his father, John, had graded the colt a rare ‘A’ during the inspections and was adamant the colt was going to end up in their stable.
“Dad and Michael did the inspections and Michael rang me and said ‘we’ve found the colt’,” said Hawkes.
“He just said he’s an absolute A, a perfect A in his opinion and John Hawkes does not hand out many As at a sale in any year.
“Plus the cross works, Sunlight is an iron horse and this blokes only needs to be half as good as her and it would be great if he could go and stand at Widden Stud one day.”
