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Widden Stud's new addition Gold Standard sires his first Group 1 winner
New Group 1 winners
First for Gold Standard
Gold Standard (Sebring), who will stand at Widden Stud in Victoria this season, sired his first Group 1 winner on Saturday when Sheeza Belter (2 f ex Saxabelle by Saxon) won the Group 1 J J Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm. The impressive winner two weeks ago of the Group 2 Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m), Sheeza Belta – who was bred by Mt Hallowell Stud - beat Political Debate (So You Think), with Brosnan (Snitzel) third. Gold Standard stood his first four seasons at Spendthrift Australia and will stand at Widden Stud's Victorian property for a fee of $8,800 (inc GST) this spring. The son of Sebring (More Than Ready), who has 39 foals in his first crop, now sits in second place in the Australian leading first season sires table by earnings behind Russian Revolution (Snitzel).
New stakes winners
First for Jukebox
Johnny Rocker (2 c ex Margene by Magic Albert) remained unbeaten in two starts when he won Saturday's Listed Oxlade Stakes (1300m) at Eagle Farm, becoming the first stakes winner for Jukebox (Snitzel). The Aquis Farms-based son of Snitzel (Redoute's Choice) will stand his fifth season at stud for a fee of $6,600 (inc GST) this spring.
Four for Mikki Isle
The Mark Newnham-trained Dragonstone (3 g ex Quick's The Word by Shamardal) became the fourth stakes winner – first in Australia - for Mikki Isle (Deep Impact) when he showed an impressive turn of foot and won Saturday's Listed Bob Carley AO Handicap (1100m) at Randwick. Starting favourite, Dragonstone beat Prime Candidate (Denman) by a length and three quarters, taking his race record to four wins and seven placings in 12 career starts. Mikki Isle is the sire of Group winning pair Meikei Yell and Namura Clair and the Listed scorer Dualist and five stakes placegetters. The former Arrowfield Stud-based sire shuttled for three seasons between 2017 and 2019.
19 for Shamus Award
Rosemont Stud's Shamus Award (Snitzel), who is enjoying a very successful season, recorded stakes winner number 19 on Saturday when Kiss Sum (3 g ex Stolen Kisses by Mossman) won the Group 3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm. Second last start in the Group 3 Fred Best Classic (1400m), Kiss Sum scored a two length victory over Battleton (Zoustar) in scoring his fourth career victory. Shamus Award has sired six individual stakes winners this season including the Group 1 winners Incentivise, Duais and El Patroness, and he will stand for a career high fee of $88,000 (inc GST) this spring.
Six for Shooting To Win
Shooting To Win (Northern Meteor) recorded stakes winner number six on Saturday when Ranges (5 g ex I Believe by Octagonal) won the Listed Hinkler Handicap (1200m) at Eagle Farm. Last seen finishing third in the Listed Ortensia Stakes (1100m) at Scone, Ranges beat Simply Fly (Spirit Of Boom) by a half length. The Darley-based Shooting To Win covered 36 mares last year when his fee was advertised at $11,000 (inc GST).
42 for So You Think
The excellent season of Coolmore Australia's So You Think (High Chaparral) continued on Saturday, with Palaisipan (4 m ex Touch Of Red by Fastnet Rock) winning the Group 2 Dane Ripper (1300m) at Eagle Farm, providing him with the 42nd stakes winner. The Chris Munce-trained mare beat favourite, Najmaty (I Am Invincible), by three quarters of a length. So You Think has sired 11 stakes winners in Australia this season and currently trails I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) in the leading Australian sires table by earnings by $300,538.