What Could Have Been

Tara Madgwick - Sunday August 20

He stood for just four seasons, but what a lasting legacy this stallion is leaving.

Widden Stud have stood many champion sires over the years, but in modern times Northern Meteor stands as a stallion we would all love to have seen a lot more of.

Northern Meteor stood at Widden between 2009 - 2012 - RIP.

By champion sire Encosta de Lago from a female family tracing in tail female line to Rough Shod, whose descendants include legendary sires Sadler’s Wells and Nureyev, Northern Meteor was always held in high regard.

He retired lightly raced after winning the Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes and in his first crop produced two colts that would go on to become champion sires in Zoustar and the now sadly pensioned Deep Field.

Zoustar and Deep Field are now both looking to extend the sire dynasty through their myriad of sire sons, but it’s the daughters of Northern Meteor that were making news last Saturday.

Advertisement

He sired the dams of two exciting stakes-winners that are headed on Group I paths this spring in Buenos Noches and Charm Stone.

Buenos Noches won the Group III ATC Show County Quality (1200m) and will look to secure an Everest start.

Charm Stone won the Group III MRC Quezette Stakes (1100m) and will head towards the Group[ I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes and possibly the Golden Rose.

Northern Meteor sired 24 stakes-winners from his four crops to race with six of those SW’s Group I winners and as a broodmare sire has produced the dams of 10 stakes-winners so far with Group I ATC Randwick Guineas winner Communist the best of them.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Monday September 8
Here is the full list of 18 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Kiwi Cup Hopeful Headed to Melbourne
Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) hopeful Wolfgang will fly to Melbourne on Wednesday to commence his path towards the A$10 million feature.
Cogburn Sire Not This Time on Fire at Keeneland September
If you have been considering sending a mare to Widden Stud’s exciting new shuttle sire Cogburn (USA) or have already booked one in you are going to be pretty interested in what is going on at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale this week where his sire Not This Time is in hot demand.
Vale, Fastnet Rock
Fastnet Rock was a crowd pleaser when paraded as a living legend at the Coolmore stallion parade last month, but sadly this spring was to be his last. 
Tara Talks Racing – This Week We Talk to Bennett Racing
In the wash up of last Saturday’s great day of spring racing there was no winner that meant more to his connections than Group I MVRC Moir Stakes victory Baraqiel, so our obvious guest this week had to be Nathan Bennett.
G1 Manikato Next for Alabama Lass
New Zealand sprinter Alabama Lass will press on for a tilt at the Gr.1 Manikato Stakes (1200m) at The Valley later this month following her runner-up effort in the Gr.1 Moir Stakes (1000m) at the Melbourne track last Saturday.
MRC Committee Returned Unopposed
The Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) has confirmed the results of the 2025 nominations for the MRC Executive Committee and the Mornington Advisory Group (MAG), which will be formally ratified at the Club’s Annual General Meeting on 25 September.
Mulberry Racing Purchase $550,000 Colt at Keeneland September
Australian based Mulberry Racing featured on the buyers list during the first session of the Keenland September Yearling Sale purchasing a colt by Quality Road for $550,000.
Waller Army Leads Cox Plate First Acceptances
Defending champion Via Sistina is among 21 horses champion trainer Chris Waller still has in contention for the $6 million 2025 Ladbrokes Cox Plate, following the closure of first acceptances on Tuesday.
Vale, Ryan Smith
Victorian breeding farm Kulani Park are mourning the loss of partner and family member Ryan Smith.