Widden Hoping for Another Perfect Match

Tara Madgwick - Tuesday September 24

The most expensive and also the equal fastest heat winner at the official Sydney two year-old trials on Monday was the Widden Stud bred and sold $1.55million Zoustar colt Tuscany, whose dam Summer Sham is emerging as a serious producer for the farm to hopefully follow in the footsteps of celebrated Widden blue hen Solar Charged.

A lightly raced winner of the Group II MRC Angus Armanasco Stakes, Not a Single Doubt mare Summer Sham was snapped up by UK bloodstock agent David Redvers at the 2019 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for $650,000 to join the progressive broodmare band at Widden Stud being assembled to support rising star sire Zoustar.

Consigned by Widden as agent to that sale, Summer Sham ticked the boxes of race performance and physical type as well as the added bonus of a huge pedigree claiming blue hen Shantha’s Choice as her third dam with the family renowned for producing Group I winners such as Redoute’s Choice, Manhattan Rain, Platinum Scissors and Shoals.

“We bought her in partnership with Qatar Bloodstock and a couple of other partners as we had seen plenty of her at the farm, so we knew she was a beautiful mare and we loved the look of the mating with Zoustar,” said Antony Thompson.

Summer Sham with her filly foal by Zoustar.

Summer Sham was purchased in foal to Star Witness, but sadly lost that colt after he was born, but since then it’s been smooth sailing with five consecutive matings to Zoustar producing five lovely foals with the most recent this beautiful bay filly born on August 29.

“She is an outstanding filly and is very similar to her first Zoustar colt Schwarz, who is also bay in colour and a tremendous athlete,” said Thompson.

Advertisement

Multiple Group winner Schwarz has won four of eight starts earning over $500,000 - image Steve Hart

Schwarz made $1.25million at Magic Millions for Widden in 2022 when bought by Rosemont-Victorian Alliance/Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA)/David Redvers Bloodstock and is trained by John O’Shea. He was a multiple Group and Listed winner last season at three and resumed to win the Group II ATC Missile Stakes last month with connections looking towards the Golden Eagle with the super talented four year-old stallion.

Silver Wedding sold for $800,000 at Inglis Easter.

The next foal from Summer Sham is three year-old filly Silver Wedding, who was bought from Widden by Cambridge Stud for $800,000 last year at Inglis Easter and is in the Ciaron Maher stable. She was third on debut at Warwick Farm back in June on a very heavy track and is an acceptor for Warwick Farm on Wednesday in the fillies and mares maiden over 1200m.

Tuscany did everything right at the trials on Monday - mage Lisa Grimm

Which brings us to her third living foal Tuscany, a handsome chestnut that was bought at Inglis Easter this year for $1.55million by the powerful stallion making syndicate China Horse Club / Newgate / Go Bloodstock / Trilogy.

Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Tuscany was given a patient ride in his 850m trial and finished off with style to surge home and win by half a length in 49.11 seconds.

The current yearling from Summer Sham is another striking chestnut colt like Tuscany and he will be headed to the 2025 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

“Tuscany was so athletic and had the most amazing movement and the colt for Easter this year is very much in that similar Tuscany mould,” said Antony Tompson.

“Summer Sham will go back to Zoustar again this year. If you find a mating that works and delivers Black Type, it just makes sense to stick to it.

“It’s worked for Solar Charged and hopefully will work for her too.”

Advertisment
More Reading...
Positive Build Up to Karaka Weanling Sale
Stars of the future go under the hammer at Karaka on Thursday with New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling Sale set to commence at 10am.
Ardrossan Supporters Rewarded with Taken
The emergence of the Victorian-based Taken is another winning story for a New Zealand breeding and ownership group established to support the three-year-old’s young sire.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday June 24
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch – Wyong
The juvenile maiden at Wyong on Tuesday had some interesting runners including the highest price yearling by Maurice (Jpn) sold in 2024 and he did take the win, but it was not without drama.
Raging Force Bolts in at Randwick
Cosmic Force 2YO Raging Force was sent around in the Group III ATC Breeder’s Plate on debut last spring finishing sixth to King Kirk and coming out of the race with an injury, but time and a patient approach has put his career back on track.
Irish Oaks Possible for Royal Ascot Fairytale Filly
The biggest story in terms of our audience reads from Royal Ascot last week was by far and away the one on the Aussie owned underdog three year-old filly Cercene, who captured the Group I Coronation Stakes.
Nice 2YO Winner for Vinery Value Sire
He might be the least expensive sire on the Vinery roster this spring at a fee of just $6,600, but Headwater gets his share of winners and produced a new two year-old winner at Doomben on Wednesday.
Capitalist 2YO Wins for Doyle
Nathan Doyle and his team would be bubbling with excitement surrounding the return of their unbeaten G1 star Private Harry, but as they say ‘little fish are sweet’ and the stable were in the winner’s circle at Wyong on Tuesday with a two year-old son of Capitalist.
Storm Boy Retired to Coolmore Australia
An utterly dominant winner of the $3 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic, the hugely exciting son of the international sire sensation Justify is set to join the Coolmore Australia roster in 2025.
G1 Tatts Tiara – Where Are They Now?
The last Group I race of the Australian racing season, the $700,000 Tatts Tiara (1400m) will be run this Saturday and as a fillies and mares feature the winner is often headed straight to stud, so we’re taking a look at where these girls are at.