Widden Stud announced their stallion fees on Thursday, with Zoustar (Aus) unchanged at A$275,000 (inc GST) as he continues to battle with Pride Of Dubai (Aus) for the Australian Sires' Premiership.
Zoustar, who retired to stud in 2014 after winning the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes and G1 Golden Rose at three, has eight Southern Hemisphere crops and four Northern Hemisphere crops. From those, he has sired 65 stakes winners led by 10 Group 1 winners.
As of Thursday, Zoustar's progeny earnings for 2024/25 stand at A$20.7 million, just behind leader Pride Of Dubai on A$21.2 million. On Saturday, Zoustar has five runners in stakes races, including defending champion Climbing Star (NZ) and three-year-old filly She's Got Pizzazz (Aus) in the A$1 million G1 Robert Sangster Stakes.
“We are aware of the gap and are upbeat about it,” said Widden Stud's Matt Comerford. “Zoustar is a sire who continues to reach new heights. Last year, he broke the record for the most winners in a season and he's leading on so many other parameters.
“He's very close to leading the Australian Sires' Premiership and his trajectory demonstrates that he can achieve that in a very competitive market. He's been champion first-season sire and champion sire of three-year-olds. This will be another very big honour that he can take on going forward.”
Of the other 19 stallions on the Widden Stud roster, new recruit Southport Tycoon (Aus) is the most expensive at A$38,500, ahead of Trapeze Artist (Aus) and another newcomer in Cogburn. Trapeze Artist will stand for a fee of A$33,000–from $55,000 in 2024–while Cogburn has been introduced at A$27,500.
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