Best On Breeding

Mark Smith - Friday January 11

Two weeks week’s into his 11th season at Widden Stud, the 2005 Group 1 Golden Slipper hero Stratum had a heart attack and died in his paddock.

He had already covered 22 mares and 15 of those had live foals, two of which were sold on the first two days at the Magic Millions.

Advertisement

So, his final full crop are two-year-olds this season and he has a likely type in Czarson who puts his unbeaten record on the line in Saturday’s $2 million Magic Millions Classic (RL) on the Gold Coast.


The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained colt kick-started his career with an authoritative win over Godolphin’s Magic Millions hope Exhilarates in a 1000 metre maiden at Gosford on November 24.

A fortnight later he led all the way over 1200 metres at Rosehill to defeat Kiamichi by two lengths with the $1.5 million Redoute’s Choice colt a further three lengths back in third.

His five weeks break from racing should not be a problem, but Tim Clark will need all his skills to overcome barrier 15.

A $200,000 purchase by PL Bloodstock out of the Amarina Farm draft at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Czarson (pictured as a yearling ) is the first foal of the talented Show A Heart mare Wobbly Boots who won five of her 10 starts.

A half-sister to the stakes-placed Aqua Vite (Northern Meteor), Wobbly Boots' dam Piquette (Grand Lodge) is a half-sister to Group 1 George Main Stakes winner Mr Celebrity (Peintre Celebre) whose dam Lamora (Marscay) is a sister to stakes-winner Marsking and a half-sister to Group 1 VATC Underwood Stakes and Group 1 QTC Castlemaine Stakes winner Prince Salieri (Salieri) as well as Group III winner Cate’s Mill (Watermill) and Listed winner Roseberry (Scenic),

It is the family descending from T J Smith’s Group 1 VRC Oaks winner Kiss Me Cait (Showdown).

Advertisment
More Reading...
2026 Inglis Classic Sire Break Up and Vendor Representation
The 2026 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale is now online with 798 yearlings which is pretty much on on a par with last year’s 805 and if you believe variety is the spice of life this catalogue is going to make you happy.
Stratum's Legionnaire Breaks Maiden in Exford PLate
The deceased Widden stallion Stratum came close to having a stakes-winner from his final full crop when Absolute Flirt was a luckless second on the Listed Cap D'Antibes Stakes at Flemington but thirty five minutes later he struck with the John Moloney-trained Legionnaire who broke his maiden in the Listed Exford Plate (1400m).
First Stakes Victory For Better Then Ready’s Epic Proportions
With victories in NSW, Victoria and Queensland since July, Ciaron Maher’s Better Than Ready gelding Epic Proportions has produced some strong efforts in his last four starts in the sunshine state, but none more so than his effort of Saturday to win the Listed BRC Keith Noud Stakes (1200m) when leading throughout. 
Sires With Winners - Sunday November 16
Here is the full list of 61 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Another Widden Bred and Sold Stakes-Winner
The Listed SAJC Queen Adelaide Stakes at Morphettville on Saturday was won in good style by promising Stratum filly Absolute Flirt, a $100,000 Magic Millions Book Two purchase from the Widden draft for O’Brien Thoroughbreds.
Another Crystal Stakes-Winner for Contract
David and Jenny Moodie of Contract Racing have bred a lot of good horses carrying the ‘Crystal’ prefix including Golden Slipper winner Crystal Lily and cheered home her three-quarter brother-in-blood Crystal Dreamer to win the Group III MRC Heath Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.
Egyptian Symbol Wears The Crown at Last
Third in the Magic Millions Guineas at three, sixth in the Magic Millions Fillies and Mares at four and third in the Magic Millions Sprint at five, the Bjorn Baker-trained Egyptian Symbol made her fourth trip to the Magic Millions race day count when powering home from the rear of the field to win Saturday's $1,00,000 Magic Millions Snippets Sprint (1200m).
Star WA Mare Storyville on Track for G1 Railway
Quality four year old mare Storyville (Overshare) collected her third stakes win and slammed the door of the Last Chance Saloon shut on a couple of potential Railway Stakes rivals in the G3 RJ Peters Stakes 1500m at Ascot.
Star Sprinter Jokers Grin Plays Winning Hand
On a big, boisterous opening day of The Pinnacles carnival at a packed out Ascot racecourse, WA’s reigning Horse Of The Year Jokers Grin was definitely the headline act.
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 15
Here is the full list of 110 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.