breednet.com.au

Zoustar Court Case Resolved in Favour of Widden

Tara Madgwick - Wednesday May 2
NSW breeders will be pleased to know that Australia's Champion First Season Sire elect Zoustar will remain permanently in the Hunter Valley at Widden Stud where his stud career began.


The court cases brought against Widden Stud by Mark Rowsthorn's Woodside Park/Merrow Nominees and the liquidators of BC3 have both been resolved in favour of Widden Stud.

Zoustar will remain permanently at WiddenWidden Stud's Antony Thompson is relieved and delighted with the verdict as Zoustar's fortunes continue to rise.

"It's fantastic to have been vindicated and have the cases behind us. We are excited that Zoustar will remain at Widden permanently and we look forward to him cementing his position as the most exciting young stallion in the Hunter Valley," Thompson said.

BC3 is a company that was previously run by Bill Vlahos who is currently facing over 200 criminal charges for fraud and both cases arose out of the purchase of Zoustar back in 2013 by Widden Stud.

Woodside Park's/Merrow Nominees have sold their interests in Zoustar to Widden Stud and are no longer involved with the Zoustar Syndicate.

The BC3 claim against Widden Stud was withdrawn with judgment and costs awarded in favour of Widden and against the liquidators of BC3 on day 2 of the hearing that was set down for two weeks.

"Widden Stud has always maintained that it honoured its obligations and that both cases were baseless," Thompson added.

"We are delighted to welcome China Horse Club and Gerry Harvey's Baramul Stud to the Zoustar syndicate. I'm sure with the tremendous support in the quality of mares that have been booked in this year there are only greater things in store for Zoustar."

Zoustar is currently leading first season sire in Australia with five winners, six placegetters and three stakes performers from his first crop that were conceived at Widden.

His first crop includes the Magic Millions winner Sunlight, who was bred in a partnership between Qatar Racing and Widden Stud and has won $1.8 million.

Zoustar's current service fee at Widden is $60,500 incl. GST and he is fully booked for the upcoming season.

Zoustar has two stakes runners this Saturday with the Chris Waller trained Lean Mean Machine to contest the Group III Ken Russell Classic at the Gold Coast, while Solar Star tackles the Listed SAJC Queen Adelaide Stakes at Morphettville.


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