Tweenhills Shuttler Zoustar Has Australian Fee Raised

Zoustar will stand for AU$154,000 (US$104,000) in the Southern Hemisphere, while multiple group 1-winning newcomer Trapeze Artist will begin his first season at a fee of AU$99,000 ($71,000) to spearhead the Widden Stud stallion roster in 2019.

The fee increase for Zoustar, Australia's leading first season sire in 2017-18 who is currently standing in the Northern Hemisphere at Tweenhills Stud at £25,000 ($32,660), comes after his 3-year-olds dominated the Coolmore Stud Ascot Vale Stakes (G1) in November, with Sunlight leading home a trifecta for the young stallion who is poised to claim the second-season sire title this year.

The Tony McEvoy-trained Sunlight subsequently won the Seppelt Wines Newmarket Handicap (G1) and the Keogh Homes William Reid Stakes (G1), with her success and that of her paternal 2- and 3-year-old siblings prompting Widden Stud to lift his fee from the AU$60,500 ($43,400) he stood for in 2018.

Zoustar is the sire of seven individual stakes winners, including this season's Magic Millions B.J. McLachlan Stakes (G3) winning juvenile Sun City, from two crops of racing age, while his yearlings sold for up to AU$1 million and averaged AU$328,571 at last week's Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

"Zoustar is the most exciting young stallion in the world and that demand has extended to the Northern Hemisphere where he is covering a full book of mares at Tweenhills Stud," Widden Stud principal Antony Thompson said. "To sire the one-two-three in a highly targeted group 1 race like the Coolmore with his first crop speaks volumes of this young stallion's ability and future.

"He's also enjoyed a phenomenal year in the sales ring with multiple yearlings fetching AU$1 million or more. Given his strong shareholder support, nomination numbers are limited and we expect he'll be full within the next few days post the release of his fee."

Thompson said the record of Trapeze Artist meant the rising 5-year-old was deserving of a high-quality band of broodmares in his first season at stud, which will be presented to him by his owner-breeder Bert Vieira and Widden Stud.

"Trapeze Artist is without question one of the most decorated and best credentialed horses to retire to stud in years," he said. "A multiple record-breaking sprinter, a 3-year-old that dominated his elders at weight-for-age level and by the champion sire in Snitzel. I can't think of an Australian colt to retire this season with anywhere near the level of Trapeze Artist's achievements."

The four-time group 1 winner, who won the 2017 De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose Stakes (G1), showcased his talent in open company 12 months ago when he claimed the Darley T J Smith Stakes (G1) and the Schweppes All Aged Stakes (G1) in a stellar autumn campaign.

Vieira, despite plenty of interest from studs following Trapeze Artist's 3-year-old season, elected to race the Gerald Ryan-trained sprinter on at 4, with the son of Snitzel finishing runner-up in the AU$13 million The Everest in October before crowning his career with a victory in the Canterbury League Club Stakes (G1) in March.

He was retired to stud following his unplaced run in the 2019 T J Smith Stakes April 6, finishing his career with seven wins from 20 starts and prize-money earnings of AU$5,568,750 ($4,156,084).

Earlier this month, Widden Stud announced last year's Ladbrokes Blue Diamond Stakes (G1) winner Written By would be joining Trapeze Artist on the roster this year at a fee of AU$24,750 ($17,750).

"Written By is an awesome individual. Strong, imposing, and perfectly suited to the Australian market which is key for commercial success," Thompson said. "He's a group 1-winning champion 2-year-old by one of Australia's leading speed sires and is completely free of Danehill blood. He profiles up ideally particularly for breeders with Redoute's Choice line mares given his duplication of Best In Show."

Consistent sire Nicconi, a mainstay of the Widden Stud roster this decade, also celebrated his biggest stallion success to date when his brilliant son Nature Strip won Ooh! Media Galaxy (G1) in March and as a result has had his service fee increased to AU$38,500 ($27,610).

Star Witness, whose group 3-winning, group 1-placed colt Graff has been flying the flag for his sire this season, will stand for AU$27,500 ($19,700). He is currently inside the top 20 leading Australian sires with 93 individual winners this season and prize-money earnings of more than AU$5.1 million.

Widden Stud was dealt a blow earlier this year with the sudden death of its flagship stallion Sebring but in a small consolation his group 1-placed son Supido will start his second season on the roster this year at a fee of AU$9,900 ($7,000) after covering 116 mares last year.

Your Song, who will have his largest crop of yearlings set for sale next year in his six seasons at stud, will stand for a reduced fee of AU$13,750 ($9,860), while Sportingbet W. S. Cox Plate (G1) winner Shamus Award will stand for AU$11,000 ($7,900).

Shamus Award, whose oldest crop are 3-year-olds, sired his maiden stakes winner Saturday when Classic Weiwei took out the Dominant Port Adelaide Guineas at Morphettville.

Group 1 winner Stratum Star, a son of Widden's late sire Stratum, will stand for AU$9,900 ($7,000) in his third season at stud while fellow unproven sire Outreach, the brother to 2013 Tooheys New Golden Slipper Stakes (G1) winner Overreach, will stand for AU$7,700 ($5,500).