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 October (Early) Online Sale $210,000
Seller: Newgate Operations
Buyer: Red Bloodstock
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...
Sires With Winners - Saturday February 21
Here is the full list of 109 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
G3 Next for Cambridge Stud's Blueblood Zoustar Mare
Cambridge Stud are under no illusions about the task ahead of Silver Wedding at Ellerslie on Saturday, with connections hoping she has one more peak performance to come.
The Power of Zoustar
The leading sire of winners in the world in 2025, reigning champion sire Zoustar makes his presence felt in many ways and we saw that over the weekend with a pair of stakes-winners in the Northern Hemisphere and here in Australia he got his first G1 winner as a broodmare sire.
That's Gold Delivers Milestone for Kiwi Trainer Chris Wood
Ellerslie’s Saturday meeting proved to be a momentous occasion for Chris Wood, with That’s Gold’s dominant win in the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) bringing up his 500th training victory in New Zealand.
Streisand Half-Brother to Sell at Inglis Premier
Trainer Clinton McDonald and bloodstock agent Shane McGrath teamed up to win their second G1 Blue Diamond Stakes in three years today with Streisand (Magnus) victorious in the juvenile feature at Caulfield.
Kiwi Group I Winners - Glamour Fillies and Blueblood Mare
Two Group I races were run in New Zealand on Saturday producing an Oaks quinella for Cox Plate winning sire Ocean Park and Yulong, while a Cambridge Stud bred and raced mare claimed her first win at the elite level.
Alabama Lass Can Bounce Back
Trainers Ken and Bev Kelso have been scratching their heads with their Group One-performed mare Alabama Lass over the last few months, but they received a confidence boost following her win in a Group and Listed 1100m trial at Taupo on Sunday.
Go Racing Hold G1 Ambitions for Plan for Lord Penman
Close up in strong company in the spring, Go Racing’s Lord Penman broke through and claimed his first Australian victory in the A$160,000 Racing and Sports Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Zoustar Stallion Keeps the Winners Coming for Cambridge Stud
Talented sprinter I’m All In showed he was back to his best with a gritty performance to take out the final race on an action-packed day at Ellerslie on Saturday, the Horizon By SKYCITY (1200m).
200/1 Stakes-Winner – How Does That Happen?
A veteran gelding by a Melbourne Cup hero became an unlikely stakes-winner at odds of 200-1 on Saturday!