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...
Raheen Stud Announce Sad Passing of Top Ranked
Leading Queensland nursery Raheen Stud announced on Friday the sad passing of their exciting young sire Top Ranked (IRE), who was euthanized on Thursday following a brief illness.
Waikato Stud on a Roll Heading into Ready to Run
Waikato Stud was a dominant force at Pukekohe with a hat-trick of winners, and the premier nursery is hoping their celebrations continue this week during New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale.
All You Need to Know Ahead of the 2025 NZB Ready to Run Sale
New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2025 Ready to Run Sale is just days away, set to take place on 12 & 13 November at the iconic Karaka Sales Centre.
New 2YO Stakes-Winner for Pinatubo
With his first Australian bred two year-olds running this season, Darley shuttler Pinatubo (IRE) was in the frame overnight in France with a new two year-old stakes winner Quiescent taking out the Listed Prix Herod (1400m) at Deauville in the Wathnan Racing colours.
Yes Yes Yes – I’ll Have What She’s Having!
The winners keep coming this spring for Yes Yes Yes with a Kiwi trained three year-old primed for his G1 target race, a promising 2YO on the rise and a stylish winner at Rosehill on Saturday for the powerful Ciaron Maher stable.
Magic Millions 2026 Family Search
One of the best innovations at Breednet is our Family Search allowing you to look for all yearlings in a sale from the family of a particular horse, so for fun we’ve taken a look for any relations to stakes-winners at Flemington during the Melbourne Cup Carnival
Breed Your Own Stayer – It Can Be Done!
Reflecting on a brilliant Melbourne Cup Carnival that featured three G1 winning stayers all sired by stallions standing in Victoria it’s the perfect time to think outside the box and plan to breed a high-class stayer of your own.
Juddmonte and Aga Khan Studs Release 2026 Fees
Juddmonte Farms and Aga Khan Studs are home to a couple of the best stallions in Europe in Frankel and Sea the Stars, both of whom have enjoyed considerable G1 success in Australia.
Sires With Winners - Friday November 7
Here is the full list of 37 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Magic Millions 2026 – Yulong Take Over as Biggest Vendor
The release of the 2026 Magic Millions Yearling catalogue has highlighted the rise of Yulong as a major force in the Australian breeding industry with the Victorian based farm the leading vendor with 69 entries up from 40 last year.