One to Watch – Canterbury

Tara Madgwick - Monday April 21

She’s ‘a filly with a pedigree to die for’, so it’s not surprising Ciaron Maher is already thinking Black Type goals for this promising Zoustar filly, who cast off maiden status with a big win at Canterbury on Easter Monday.

Silver Wedding in full flight at Canterbury - image Bradley Photography

An $800,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Cambridge Stud, Silver Wedding is a three year-old full sister to Group I MVRC William Reid Stakes winner Schwarz and has been a work in progress. Placed at her only start as a juvenile, Silver Wedding had two more starts last spring including an unplaced run when beaten three lengths behind Aeliana in the Group III ATC Reginald Allen.

Given a good break after that, she trialled in encouraging fashion two weeks ago and looked a far more professional filly when produced at Canterbury in the 1100m fillies and mares maiden.

Advertisement

She travelled off the pace for Jason Collett and when angled into clear running quickly put paid to her rivals to win by two lengths running away from another well bred Zoustar filly in Ninette, who is from Golden Slipper winner Overreach.

“I was rapt to see her win. She's got a pedigree to die for and congratulations to Brendan and Jo Lindsay (Cambridge Stud). I think it was their silver anniversary when Jo went ahead and bought her,” said Ciaron Maher.

“She's always shown plenty. We just had to wait for her just to mature a little bit mentally, but it was a beautiful ride by Jason and the team down at Bong Bong have done a great job with her. She just thrives down there in that relaxed environment.

“They have got a very nice filly on her hands now. So we'll just see where she ends up, possibly in Queensland chasing a bit of Black Type.”

Silver Wedding was an $800,000 Inglis Easter purchase from Widden Stud.

Bred by Widden Stud in partnership, Silver Wedding is the second winner from three foals to race from Group II winning Not a Single Doubt mare Summer Sham, who traces directly back to blue hen Shantha’s Choice, the dam of Group I winners Redoute’s Choice, Manhattan Rain and Platinum Scissors.

Widden have been well rewarded for Summer Sham’s offspring in the sale ring with her past two colts by Zoustar selling for $1.4million (yearling) and $1.55million (two year-old Tuscany)after Schwarz started the ball rolling when selling for $1.25million.

Summer Sham had another filly last spring by Zoustar and is back in foal to him again, so given what you know is in the pipeline for this family the purchase of Silver Wedding for $800,000 looks to have been a very savvy investment with hindsight!

Advertisment

Race Result - Proven Thoroughbreds Mdn Plate 1100m

Canterbury Track: Good(4) Time: 1:04.04
1
Silver Wedding
- 3f Zoustar (AUS) x Summer Sham (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher Rdr: J R Collett 57.5
Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale $1,550,000
Seller: Widden Stud, Widden Valley
Buyer: China Horse Club / Newgate / Go Bloodstock / Trilogy
2
2.2
Ninette
- 3f Zoustar (AUS) x Overreach (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: M, W & J Hawkes Rdr: Tyler Schiller 57.5
3
2.3
Winner Of Kowloon
- 3f Shamus Award (AUS) x Tainted Witness (AUS) (Star Witness (AUS))
Tnr: Bjorn Baker Rdr: Rachel King 57.5
4
2.9
Maid Of Moolah
- 3f Capitalist (AUS) x Doncella (IRE) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: Peter Snowden Rdr: A Adkins 57.5
5
4.9
Mother Goose
- 3f Lonhro (AUS) x Maternal (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Zac Lloyd 57.5
6
9.4
Exploding World
- 3f Rubick (AUS) x Eva Destruction (AUS) (Domesday (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 57.5
7
11
Crazy Mikki
- 4m Mikki Isle (JPN) x Crazy Quality (AUS) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: A P Ball Rdr: Benjamin Osmond 55
More Reading...
Juvenile Trial Watch – Caulfield
Three barrier trials at Caulfield on Thursday morning produced heat winners for first season sires Wild Ruler and Profiteer with the quickest winner being Free Flying, the half-sister by Snitzel to brilliant Group winning mare Learning to Fly.
Milan Park Experience Highs and Lows
Tony Rider experienced the extreme highs and lows of breeding thoroughbreds within a matter of hours on Wednesday.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 1
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 2
Here is the full list of 29 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Blueblood Fillies From $3million Mares
Tom Magnier has been notable for his purchase of elite race fillies and broodmares in recent years to enhance the stellar Coolmore broodmare band and two of his $3million plus mare purchases have produced stunning fillies this spring.
NZ Derby Hero Willydoit Primed for Epsom
Last season’s New Zealand Derby hero Willydoit will step back into the spotlight on Saturday when he contests the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick for trainer Ciaron Maher, with jockey Tommy Berry bullish the horse is ready to make his mark over the famous mile.
Generation Foals Built for Speed
Victorian farm Lovatsville offer a diverse stallion roster for this spring geared to satisfy a wide spectrum of breeder ambitions and if explosive Aussie speed is your thing then Snitzel stallion Generation will fit the bill.
New SW Wrote - Fast Network Wins G3 National Day Cup
Trainer Dennis Yip claimed a timely first win of the 2025/26 season, taking out the feature HK$4.2 million Gr.3 National Day Cup Handicap (1000m) at Sha Tin’s National Day fixture on Wednesday when his stable star Fast Network, a New Zealand bred son of Wrote, blitzed a strong field under Alexis Badel.
Melody Belle Daughter Set for Long Awaited Debut
It will be a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at The Valley on Friday night when Lyrics ‘N’ Song, a daughter of their former multiple Group One winner Melody Belle, makes her debut.
Hellbent Winner Impresses at Sha Tin
Astute trainer Mark Newnham paid $425,000 at the 2023 NZB Ready to Run Sale to secure a promising two year-old by Hellbent and Invincible Ibis delivered on that promise when scoring a last to first win at Sha Tin on Wednesday.