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...
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).
Aussie Winner South Africa
Casting off maiden status at Kenilworth in South Africa on Saturday was three year-old Stratum filly Freedom Seeker, an $80,000 Inglis Premier purchase for World Wide Bloodstock  from the draft off Grenville Stud.
One to Watch – Kembla
The juvenile maiden at Kembla on Tuesday was an intriguing affair featuring a number of well-bred and very expensive colts on debut, but the winner was a stylish first starter filly by Capitalist that broke 56 seconds for her debut win.
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).
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.
Arrowfield Announce 2025 Fees
In the wake of his third Golden Slipper winner and his career-best yearling sale results, multiple Champion Sire Snitzel heads the 2025 Arrowfield stallion roster at an unchanged fee of $247,500, while Castelvecchio has earned a deserved fee increase.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday April 15
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Belclare Seeking to Find Best Form Back in Australia
Dual Group One winner Belclare’s return home for a three-race campaign didn’t go to plan earlier this year, and now she is back on the other side of the Tasman to try and get her preparation back on track.
Kiwi Sprint Star Crocetti Arrives in Perth
Kiwi Group One-winning sprinter Crocetti has landed in Perth ahead of next week’s A$5 million The Quokka (1200m) at Ascot Racecourse.
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.