Cover image courtesy of Alma Vale Thoroughbreds
The undeliable wow factor
With Widden Stud's Zoustar recently in the news, pronounced the world's leading sire of individual winners in 2024 and the leading sire of overall race wins, it is timely for one of his sons to be highlighted.
“He is my pick of the foals born at Alma Vale this season,” said the stud's Verna Metcalfe of the fourth born foal for the lightly raced, two-time winning Group 3-placed mare Wedgie (Foxwedge).
"He is pure quality with that undeniable wow factor," she enthused.
Zoustar x Wedgie (colt) | Image supplied
A close up third in the G3 Kembla Grange Classic won by Luvaluva (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), Wedgie has enjoyed good sales results with her first three through the ring all selling for six figures including this foal's full sister Gimme Some Lovin'.
A member of the Grahame Begg stable, she fetched $400,000 at this year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale whilst Wedgie's 3-year-old Pretty Cheeky (Written Tycoon), a $100,000 Magic Millions National Sale graduate recorded an easy and impressive maiden win at Queanbeyan in late October.
That Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained filly was having just her second start.
Wedgie is one of the eight winners (from nine to race) for the city-placed three-time winner Undercover (Covetous) whose multiple city-winning daughter Gibraltar Moon (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) is the dam of the tough stakes-placed gallopers American Genius (All American) and Star Genius (Starcraft {NZ}) who between them won 21 races.
Verna Metcalfe | Image supplied
Able to count the big race winners Haradasun, Elvstroem, Circles Of Gold (Marscay), Highland Reel (Ire), Cape Of Good Hope (Ire), Polar Success (Success Express {USA}), Angel Bleu (Fr) (Dark Angel {Ire}), Stronger and Amicus (Fastnet Rock) amongst his relations, this colt is bred on the same Zoustar/Fastnet Rock cross as the Group 1 gallopers Zougotcha (Zoustar), Joliestar (Zoustar) and Climbing Star (Zoustar) and four other stakes winners.
Not surprisingly Wedgie paid a return visit to Zoustar and is in foal.
Scope and presence
Any stud welcoming an I Am Invincible foal is a lucky one and Metcalfe is excited about the arrival of a colt out of the unraced Prospect Park (Manhattan Rain).
"He is an incredibly attractive foal exuding quality, scope and presence," she said.
Alma Vale purchased his dam in foal for $300,000 at this year's Inglis Chairman's Sale. Her first foal, a So You Think (NZ) colt was passed in as an Inglis weanling and was exported to New Zealand in June.
I Am Invincible x Prospect Park (colt) | Image supplied
Prospect Park, who is in foal to Newgate Farm's Tassort, is a half-sister to the G1 Western Australian Derby and G3 Western Australian Oaks heroine Grand Journey (Good Journey {USA}) and the Listed winner Proliferate (More Than Ready {USA}) and to the dams of the G1 Galaxy winner Griante (Good Journey {USA}) and the Listed winner Kinloch (I Am Invincible).
Five of the seven I Am Invincible runners out of Manhattan Rain mares are winners and this is the same I Am Invincible/Encosta De Lago cross that has produced the Group 1 winners Imperatriz (I Am Invincible), Lady Laguna (Overshare) and Lombardo (I Am Invincible) as well as 15 other stakes winners.
Could not ask for better
Alma Vale bought some lovely mares over the course of the year, another being the unraced Pasar Gold (Choisir) who was secured at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for $260,000.
She was in foal, for the first time, to Newgate Farm's Capitalist and Metcalfe is excited by the resulting colt.
"We could not have asked for a better first foal," she said.
"He is an outstanding colt, well-grown and very athletic."
Capitalist x Pasar Gold (colt) | Image supplied
Pasar Gold, who is now in foal to Zoustar, is a daughter of the imported Group 3 and Listed winner Pasar Silbano (Ire) (Elnadim {USA}) who died early this year having done a fine job with four winners amongst her five to race including the Widden Stud's G2 BRC Champagne Classic winning up-and-coming stallion Zousain.
Pasar Silbano is a full sister to the G1 Cheveley Park S. winner Come To Heel (Ire) and a half-sister to the Listed winner Gerfalcon (GB) (Hawk Wing {USA}) from the family of the dual Group 1 winner Indian Lodge (Ire).
