Widden’s Victoria roster on parade for first time

Stallion parades across Victoria continued yesterday and, for the first time, the roster was on show at Widden’s new property at Kerrie.

The historic Hunter Valley-based stud purchased the former Sun Stud property in February last year, taking on several of the existing roster, including Magnus (Flying Spur), Fiorente (Monsun), Thronum (Snitzel) and National Defense (Invincible Spirit), while acquiring new blood in Russian Camelot (Camelot) and Doubtland (Not A Single Doubt), as well as former Spendthrift trio Overshare (I Am Invincible), Gold Standard (Sebring) and Dirty Work (Written Tycoon).

Headlining the roster, however, is the relocated Nicconi (Bianconi), sire of The Everest (1200m) hero and global star Nature Strip, while veteran stallion Star Witness (Starcraft) also made the trip south to form part of the 11-strong roster, the largest in Victoria.

While Nicconi was named champion Victorian sire after finishing fourth in the general sire standings last season, Gold Standard, the sire of JJ Atkins Plate (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Sheeza Belter, was Victoria’s champion first season sire, finishing behind only Russian Revolution (Snitzel) in the Australia-wide standings.

Widden Victoria is also welcoming the first foals this season by northern hemisphere-bred three-year-old Group 1 winner Russian Camelot (pictured above), as well as Doubtland and the stud’s one new addition to the roster for this season, Dirty Work.