Widden Sires Quinella G2 Silver Slipper

Tara Madgwick - Saturday February 24

Written By was a dominant winner of the 2018 Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes before retiring to stand at Widden Stud and he featured on Saturday with with an exciting new stakes-winner when quality colt Straight Charge led all the way to win the $300,000 Group II ATC Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m).

Straight Charge wins the G2 Silver Slipper - image Steve Hart

Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Straight Charge was narrowly beaten by his stablemate Espionage on debut in the Group III ATC Breeders Plate last spring, but was able to turn the tables on the son of Zoustar in this assignment to give Widden sires a Group race quinella.

He jumped smoothly for Tim Clark from a wide gate and worked forward to cross and lead while his arch rival Espionage was content to hand up the role of leader and take a trail behind him.

Straight Charge kicked strongly to the line and held off a determined bid from Espionage to win by a length with both colts headed for a rematch in the Group II ATC Todman Stakes in two weeks time, enroute to the Golden Slipper.

“He’s always shown that natural brilliance and it’s good to see him bring that back today off a setback last preparation,” said Adrian Bott, referring to his aborted Magic Millions campaign due to an elevated temperature.

“He’s done it in great order and I think he enjoyed that little bit of cut in the ground.

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“I’m very proud of both colts and obviously the winner was very impressive. Both colts are on the exact same path now going to the Todman Stakes in two weeks over 1200m and that should have them fit and ready for their grand final in the Golden Slipper.”

Straight Charge was a $270,000 Magic Millions purchase for Yulong.

A $270,000 Magic Millions purchase from Lime Country Thoroughbreds for Yulong, he was a successful pinhook having been bought originally from the Twin Hills draft at the Inglis Weanling Sale for $160,000 by Paul Moroney Bloodstock / Pegasus Bloodstock.

Bred by Scott and Cathy Robertson, Straight Charge is the second foal and second winner from placed I Am Invincible mare Matryoshka. Written By looked a logical choice for Matryoshka as she is a half-sister to Written Tycoon's Group II winning speedball, Winning Rupert, and his high-class sister Tycoon Evie, winner of the Group III BRC Pam O'Neill Stakes.

She has no yearling for the 2024 sales, but produced another colt by Written By last year and then had a big upgrade to be covered by Widden Stud’s champion sire Zoustar and appears to be in foal.

Written By stands at Widden Stud, click for more info.

Straight Charge is the third stakes-winner for Written By, whose oldest progeny are three year-olds.

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Race Result - TAB Silver Slipper Stakes Gr2 1100m

Rosehill Track: Soft(6) Time: 1:04.47
1
Straight Charge
- 2c Written By (AUS) x Matryoshka (AUS) (I Am Invincible (AUS))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: Tim Clark 56.5
Written By
2
1.3
Espionage
- 2c Zoustar (AUS) x In Times Of War (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: G Waterhouse & A Bott Rdr: N Rawiller 56.5
Zoustar
3
3.7
Erno's Cube
- 2f Rubick (AUS) x Long Wink (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: J R Collett 54.5
4
6.1
Embassy
- 2c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Dendee (AUS) (Denman (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56.5
5
6.5
Celerity
- 2f Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Ellicazoom (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: K Mc Evoy 54.5
6
7.6
Gai's Artist
- 2f Snitzel (AUS) x Treppes (AUS) (Domesday (AUS))
Tnr: G Ryan & S Alexiou Rdr: Tyler Schiller 54.5
7
10.5
Yoshinobu
- 2c Written Tycoon (AUS) x Total Attraction (AUS) (Nadeem (AUS))
Tnr: Annabel Neasham Rdr: Regan Bayliss 56.5
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