Cover image courtesy of Widden
Friday saw more stallion parades across Victoria, and TTR chatted to several industry participants about what stallions caught the eye. King Colorado and Lofty Strike were frequently mentioned.
Widden Victoria is here to stay
Friday began with the announcement that Antony and Katie Thompson have purchased Widden Stud Victoria. They took over the lease on Sun Stud in 2021, and this consolidates Widden’s long term commitment to Victoria. Widden Victoria will stand nine stallions in 2024 led by proven Group 1 sires Gold Standard, Nicconi, Overshare, and Star Witness. Dirty Work, Doubtland, and Russian Camelot (Ire) all have their first runners in 2024/25, while Bruckner’s first foals are due this spring. King Colorado joins the roster in 2024.
“The rain held off at Widden,” said Will Stott from Inglis Victoria. King Colorado has plenty of scope and bone and length, I could see him leaving commercial progeny. Nicconi looked unreal, he’s a safe proven stallion. Dirty Work and Russian Camelot also both looked amazing. Bruckner looked amazing, he topped Premier as a yearling and he’s a beautiful animal. He’s let down well and I imagine his foals will be very classy looking.
Will Stott | Image courtesy of Inglis
“As a whole, the horses at Widden looked really well. It’s exciting to see Antony and Katie have bought the property. It’s good news for Victoria and the breeding industry here. One thing I’ve learned going to all the parades these last couple of days is that we (Victoria) have so many options across the board for breeders, young horses, top proven horses, and many value middle of the road choices too.”
“Bruckner looked outstanding, he’s let down well into an athletic type, who will be exciting in years to come,” said Ryan Arnel of Stonehouse Thoroughbreds. “Widden has a good bunch of horses across the board. It was the only parade I’ve been too this season as I’ve seen the other new sires on other days. Widden put on a great show, a ripping day.
“Nicconi is a nice bread and butter horse who looks amazing. He’s worthy of great support, provides a good sales horse and gets lot of winners. Star Witness is a great breed to race option and keeps coming up with the goods.
“Widden has a good bunch of horses across the board. It was the only parade I’ve been too this season as I’ve seen the other new sires on other days. Widden put on a great show, a ripping day.” - Ryan Arnel
“Of the new boys, Dirty Work excites me. He covered one of the best books in his first season after Farnan, but had younger mares on average and is a great chance. He looked fantastic. They’ve only had King Colorado for a few weeks, or so I heard, and he looked excellent. His pedigree is unreal, for anyone looking for an outcross, he’s a Group 1 horse and a great physical to go with it. We’ve got a lot of clients going to King Colorado, and will send a few to Dirty Work, Nicconi and Bruckner.”
“Widden had a great turnout. The first season horse King Colorado was impressive, a good moving individual. All the stallions looked extremely well, and staff should be given credit for how they looked,” Magic Millions' Victoria and Tasmania Manager, Tim Brown said.
Swettenham Stud’s stellar six
Swettenham Stud have six horses on their roster for 2024 led by proven sire Toronado (Ire) who is joined by this season’s new horse Lofty Strike. Also on the roster are proven horses Puissance De Lune (Ire) and Rubick, while I Am Immortal’s first crop have just turned three, and Wooded (Ire)’s first crop are yearlings.
“A value option that looked great was Lofty Strike. A son of Snitzel, who has 5 per cent stakes winners to runners, Lofty Strike will mate well with Encosta De Lago, More Than Ready and Lonhro mares, and again will work well with Danehill mares,” said G1 Goldmine’s Matt Ennis.
Toronado (Ire) | Standing at Swettenham Stud
“At Swettenham, Toronado is out and out the best horse every year,” said trainer Charlotte Lilyfield. “He’s the number one anywhere for me. He knows he’s good, he exudes confidence and arrogance. His skin was rippling, just beautiful. Of the newer horses, I really liked Lofty Strike. Plenty of substance. I saw him a lot when he was racing, and he was a big framed horse with a big girth and very striking, but he’s let down into a real stallion and put on that muscle mass. Good value for money, especially for a neater mare who needs some power.”
“I’m a fan of Lofty Strike. He’s a big impressive horse, very athletic. I could see yearlings by him selling well, as he’s got that speed pedigree, type, with his sireline and out of a fast mare. I think trainers will want to buy foals by him. Toronado is flying and looks exceptional,” said Inglis’ Will Stott.
Maluka’s General Beau
Will Stott also visited Maluka Thoroughbreds who stand first season sire General Beau, a Group 2 winning son of Brazen Beau.
General Beau | Standing at Maluka Thoroughbreds
“He’s a beast of a horse, super fast, huge girth, good hip and he’ll be well supported with Hesket Bloodstock sending him 30 mares. Maluka have taken over the farm that was Spendthrift and it’s exciting for them.”
Woodside Park Stud’s Benbatl impresses
Woodside Farm will stand six stallions in 2024 with proven options Foxwedge, Rich Enuff, Shalaa (Ire) and Vancouver. Delaware (GB)’s oldest crop are yearlings in 2024, while Benbatl (GB) first stood in Japan in 2022 and is new to Australia in 2024.
“Woodside was great,” said Will Stott.
“I was very impressed by Benbatl, you can’t fault him. Short cannons, good bone, he has more scope than his sire Dubawi with a good temperament. All horses at Woodside were so well behaved.
“I was very impressed by Benbatl, you can’t fault him. Short cannons, good bone, he has more scope than his sire Dubawi with a good temperament. All horses at Woodside were so well behaved.” - Will Stott
Rich Enuff is underrated with five new stakes winner this year, and he has that good horse in WA, he gets colts in Hong Kong. For the fee, he’s so safe.” Rich Enuff’s stakes winners in WA in the last season were Group 3 winner, and Group 1 placed Oscar’s Fortune who also placed in The Quokka, and G3 WA Gimcrack S. winner Siren Assault.
