AMONG the toughest and most consistent horses in training in recent years, Stratum Star has appropriately been retired and will stand to take up stud duties at Widden Stud in the Widden Valley.
Appropriately because not only was Stratum Star bred, born and raised on Widden Stud, but also due to the fact that his Golden Slipper-winning sire, the deceased Stratum, formerly took centre stage with his outstanding sire record when standing at Widden.
Unlike most young impeccably-bred racing colts, Stratum Star was allowed to race on as a five-year-old.
From an early age, Stratum Star displayed ability as a juvenile, and who continued to blossom to take his record to eight wins from 1400 to 2200 metres, including two group 1 races – the MRC Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and WATC Kingston Town Classic – and earn $2.45 million.
During his 37-race career, Stratum Star won or was placed in 18 stakes races, winning his group 1 races as a four- and five-year-old, which sets the handsome chestnut stallion apart from other horses retiring to stud this year.
A direct descendent of great racemare, Emancipation, Stratum Star is one of two stakes horses produced from juvenile placed mare, Purely Spectacular, a daughter of outstanding New Zealand sire, Pins, by influential Snippets, a son of Lunchtime, another famous name associated with Widden Stud.
Possessing a pedigree cross of Danehill, Star Kingdom and Northern Dancer, Stratum Star joins other successful young sires at Widden – Sebring, Star Witness, Nicconi, and Your Song.
Upcoming sires of the season
Breeders and enthusiasts are always looking for new sires of the upcoming season. The following is a brief description of some other new sires that I have not yet documented.
MAURICE (JAPAN): Belonging to the Roberto maleline being by Japanese-bred, Screen Hero, Maurice was a Japan Horse Of The Year and a champion sprinter/miler winning 11 races from 18 starts earning equivalent to $12 million.
The bay stallion’s six group 1 wins included the Japan Cup and the Hong Kong Cup.
To stand at Arrowfield Stud, Scone, Maurice was produced from Mejiro Frances, a daughter of Sadler’s Wells sire, Carnegie, who found good stud success in Australia.
SHALAA (IRELAND): Another new boy to stand at Arrowfield, Shalaa was a champion juvenile in France, and was second top European two-year-old, having eight starts for six wins including the group 1 races Prix Morny at Deauville, France, and the Middle Park Stakes at Newmarket, England, as well as the group 2 Richmond Stakes at Goodwood, also England. Shalaa is by champion UK sire, Invincible Spirit, also sire of Australia’s current “hottest” sire, I Am Invincible.
HOLLER: Another of Godolphin’s outstanding home-bred gallopers, Holler – brilliantly named being by Commands (by Danehill), from Shouts (Strategic), was an honest, consistent competitor, earning $748,625 from 14 starts.
Winning on debut as a juvenile at Randwick, Holler went on to win the group 1 ATC Canterbury Stakes in track-record time, won the MVRC Australia Stakes-G2 and Red Anchor Stakes-G3 and was second in the William Reid Stakes-G1. To stand at Godolphin’s Northwood Park at Seymour, Victoria, Holler’s dam is a half-sister to outstanding sprinter, Yell.
ALPINE EAGLE: Retiring to Armidale Stud, Carrick, Tasmania, Alpine Eagle was a juvenile winner in South Australia, before he won the group 2 Autumn Classic at Caulfield as a three-year-old, and won twice at Morphettville (including over 1600 metres by five lengths). A brown stallion by deceased Sadler’s Wells sire, High Chaparral, Alpine Eagle was also a nose second in the group 1 Australian Guineas. Carrying a four-by-four pedigree cross to the great US racer and sire, Round Table, Alpine Eagle was produced from Zabeel mare Zephyria.
During his 37-race career, Stratum Star won or was placed in 18 stakes races, winning his group 1 races as a four- and five-year-old
CAPITALIST: This scintillating sprinter by outstanding Last Tycoon sire, Written Tycoon, who burst onto the scene as a brilliant juvenile, winning a record $3.545 million in earnings from wins including the ATC Golden Slipper Stakes-G1, the Breeders Plate-LR, and the Magic Millions Two-Year-Old Classic. To stand at Henry Field’s Newgate Farm, Aberdeen, Capitalist was produced from Fusaichi Pegasus mare, Kitalpha, an immediate relation to Golden Slipper winner, Merlene.
WINNING RUPERT: Another to stand at Newgate Farm, and another son of Written Tycoon, and like Capitalist a chestnut rising four-year-old stallion. Produced from the Show A Heart mare, Winaura, Winning Rupert raced six times for five successive wins including the BTC Vo Rogue Plate-G3, the Gold Edition Stakes-LR and the Champagne Two-Year-Old Stakes-G2 in Brisbane and $579,500.
SIR PRANCEALOT (IRE): To join Zebedee (Invincible Spirit) on the shuttle crew at Cornerstone Stud, Angaston, South Australia, Sir Prancealot belongs to the Mr Prospector maleline being by Tamayuz, and was produced from dual group 1 winner, Mona Em (by former shuttle sire Catrail). Following his race career which included winning the Flying Childers Stakes-G2 at Doncaster, England, Sir Prancealot has already begun his stud career in Europe where he was leading European first season sire by winners – 28 – last year.
