Australia's best three year-old for 2013/2014 in Shamus Award and the best three year-old sprinter Zoustar were presented to a big crowd at Widden Stud on Friday and did not disappoint.
Only just out of quarantine, Zoustar is still light and tight, but it's not hard to see what he'll be like in a year's time.
The dual Group I winner has many of the physical characteristics of his ill-fated sire Northern Meteor and it seems only fitting that his best son should find his way to Widden.
Fully booked for his debut season, Zoustar has won the support of Australia's best breeders with a notable booking from renowned breeder Catherine Remond being the dam of last season's Northern Meteor Group I winner Cosmic Endeavour.
Cox Plate and Australian Guineas hero Shamus Award has already started to let down in impressive fashion and if you've not seen him yet, then it's worth a trip to Widden as he's got much to offer.
In appearance he owes little to his sire Snitzel, but there is no mistaking the lineage from his dam-side with his mother Sunset Express, a daughter of Success Express (USA), who is also the dam sire of two more Cox Plate winners in Pinker Pinker and Savabeel.
For some reason he reminded me quite a bit of Savabeel and if he ends up as good a sire as he is, then his supporters will be happy.
Fastnet Rock's Group I winning son Your Song was the new boy last year, but he's no boy now, he's all man!
Paraded for the crowd was one of his first foals, a gorgeous bay filly from the Choisir mare Sundays Girl.
Golden Slipper winner Sebring has soared to new heights during the past season
as the sire of brilliant two year-olds and classic three year-olds. The Champion
Second Season Sire for 2013/2014, he was the first stallion filled at Widden
this spring.
Siring a Golden Slipper winner in your first crop makes for a hard act to follow, but Golden Slipper winner Stratum has kept up the good work siring the winners of more than $29 million headed by 23 stakes-winners.
As Antony Thompson pointed out, "Show me another stallion with just five crops racing with his record standing for less than $50,000."
Installed as favourite by Sportingbet to be Australia's leading first season sire by winners, dual Group I winner Star Witness was in a playful mood and stole the show.
Good looks and bloodlines will take you so far, but results on the race track
are what defines greatness.
Thankyou to all at Widden Stud for a terrific day out.
All images – Jasmine Haynes.
Thankyou to all at Widden Stud for a terrific day out.
All images – Jasmine Haynes.
