Record-chasing stallion Zoustar gets Widden Stud fee hike
Widden Stud’s Zoustar has been elevated to the equal highest-service of any stallion in Australia, while Group 1-winning juvenile King Colorado will join the farm’s two-state 18-strong roster, standing in Victoria.
Zoustar is second on the Australian Sires Table, with 14 stakes winners this season, including Group 1 winners Zougotcha, Climbing Star, Joliestar and Ozzmosis. With 174 individual winners already, he is well-placed to break the record for the most winners by any sire in an Australian season, which stands at 209.
In the sales ring, his yearlings have proven phenomenally popular in 2024, averaging $478,420 across 84 sales, including top price of $1.9 million for a colt and $2.2 million for a filly.
Zoustar’s fee for 2024 rises to $275,000 (inc GST), level with Yarraman Park’s I Am Invincible and Newgate’s Extreme Choice, having been $220,000 in 2023 when he served 155 mares.
“We have always had complete belief in the potential of Zoustar to become an Australian champion sire and we are delighted for all of our clients that have shared in his constantly evolving story of success,” Widden principal Antony Thompson said.
“An increase in service fee in the financial climate we find ourselves needs to be measured and warranted and in the case of Zoustar he has truly earned it.”
Meanwhile, Widden has confirmed that King Colorado, the son of Kingman who won the 2023 JJ Atkins Stakes for Ciaron Maher and his then-training partner David Eustace, would join its Victorian roster in 2024. King Colorado will stand at $16,500.
“King Colorado won the G1 JJ Atkins at just his third race start and has a world class female pedigree stamping him as a serious sire prospect,” Thompson said.
King Colorado descends through his stakes-winning dam More Aspen, from the legendary blue hen Fall Aspen, who counts 16 individual Group 1 winners among her descendants.
Zousain, who stands on Widden’s NSW roster, will have a fee increase to $27,500 from $22,000.
His first crop hit the track this season and has featured sired seven winners headed by Group 3-winning filly Drifting, Group placed Chateau Miraval and metro winners Zouna, Froebel Star and Dyer.
In a reflection of the broader market, five New South Wales stallions at Widden saw reductions on their fees, Jacquinot ($27,500), Written By ($22,000), Portland Sky ($19,800), Supido ($16,500) and Rebel Dane ($11,000).
In Victoria, Nicconi’s fee has dropped to $16,500, Gold Standard to $9900, Star Wtiness to $8800 and Overshare to $5500.
Trapeze Artist ($55,000) and Anders ($16,500) are both unchanged in New South Wales, as are Russian Camelot ($19,800), Doubtland ($13.200), Dirty Work ($13,200) and Bruckner ($11,000) in Victoria.
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