Widden Stud has announced its 2026 service fees on a diverse roster of 19 stallions split between NSW and Victoria, headlined by reigning Champion Australian sire Zoustar, who continues to dominate on the track and in the sales ring.
Zoustar (Northern Meteor) was the world’s leading sire of winners in 2025 and has carried that momentum into 2026, with nine individual stakes winners of 15 stakes races so far this season in Australia. The latest arrived on Saturday, when the Team Hawkes-trained sprinter Grand Larceny landed a fitting victory in the SAJC John Hawkes Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) at Morphettville.
On the international stage, champion Zoustar mare Joliestar is set to take on some of the world’s best sprinters in the Queen Elizabeth Jubilee Stakes (Gr 1, 6f) at Royal Ascot on Saturday, June 20. She is the opening $2.50 favourite following Group 1 triumphs in the Canterbury Stakes (Gr 1, 1300m) and T J Smith Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) at Randwick.
“Zoustar is at the height of his powers and maintains excellent fertility with his recent books of mares surpassing the quality of all that have gone before,” Widden Stud owner Antony Thompson said.
“Last year we welcomed mares from many of the very best stud farms in the country to be covered by Zoustar and they included Everest and four-time Group 1 winner Bella Nipotina in her first season at stud, Medaglia Valore, the dam of Campione D’Italia, and Via Africa, the dam of Autumn Glow.”
Zoustar’s dominance has been emphatically reflected in the sales ring, where his progeny continue to be among the most sought-after yearlings in Australasia.
“This year he produced six yearlings selling for $1 million or more and averaged more than $544,000 from 57 yearlings, underlining the extraordinary commercial appeal,” Thompson said.
Zoustar stands at a fee of $275,000 (inc. GST).
Jacquinot (Rubick) and his first yearlings were well received at the majors this year with 16 selling at Magic Millions Book 1 for an average of $218,000, with a top price of $425,000 for a colt from Bonheur (I Am Invincible).
“Ciaron Maher purchased three of his top five-priced yearlings which speaks volumes for their quality,” Thompson said. “The feedback from breakers and trainers has been incredibly positive and we can’t wait to see them on the track next season. His value this year is exactly what the market is looking for and he represents a great option for breeders.”
Jacquinot was a dual elite-level winner of the Golden Rose Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) and C F Orr Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) and he stands at a fee of $19,800 (inc. GST).
Offering a wide variety of proven stallions to budget conscious breeders is also a high priority at Widden, and its affordably-priced sires have rewarded their supporters.
Stallion of the moment, Trapeze Artist (Snitzel) sired his second Group 1 winner on Saturday when Panova cruised home in the Australasian Oaks (Gr 1, 2000m) at Morphettville.
Panova heads eight Australian stakes winners for Trapeze Artist this season, comprising two-year-olds Spicy Miss, Chilly Girl and Where’s The Circus, three-year-olds Panova and The Crimson Pirate, Sydney stayer Piggyback, Godolphin mare Pinito and Group-winning sprinter, Disneck.
“Trapeze Artist’s success has been building for some time, and his fee reflects the value he offers this season,” Thompson reasoned. “Breeders will be incredibly well-placed sending mares to him.”
Trapeze Artist stands at a fee of $27,500 (inc. GST).
Another current on-fire Widden stallion, Zousain (Zoustar) was also on the mark at Morphettville on Saturday with Verzain in the Breeders' Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) for local trainer Phillip Stokes. She went back-to-back at stakes level following the Without Fear Stakes (Listed, 1050m).
“Verzain is tough and she’s a valuable filly now,” Stokes said post-race. “There was good speed up front and she was strong through the line. If she pulls up well, we will have to think about the David Coles Stakes [Gr 3, 1200m] in a fortnight.”
Zousain is the very image of his sire Zoustar and has proven a highly reliable source of winners in his own right. He’s also proving popular in Hong Kong – where he has sired four individual winners this season – highlighted by Salon S, who is undefeated in four Sha Tin starts for trainer Frankie Lor.
Zousain remains in high demand and his yearling sale results continue to provide incredible results for breeders, having sold for $375,000, $300,000, $260,000, $250,000 and $220,000, alongside a further 15 yearlings achieving $100,000 or more.
Zousain stands at a fee of $22,000 (inc. GST).
Supido (Sebring) is building momentum with his current two-year-old crop being his biggest ever. From just six runners, he has already sired outstanding 2026 Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) winner Unit Five, suggesting there is a wealth of untapped talent in the pipeline.
With his second-largest crop of yearlings and the first bred at a higher fee, the son of Sebring (More Than Ready) is locked and loaded for an upswing.
Supido stands at a fee of $9,900 (inc. GST).
Anders (Not A Single Doubt) has posted two stakes-winners from his first crop this season, including promising young stayer Single Choice. A winner of four from ten starts including the Autumn Classic (Gr 2, 1800m), Single Choice has next Saturday’s South Australian Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) in his sights for trainer Matt Cumani.
With his oldest progeny just three-year-olds, the future looks bright for Anders, who also stands at a fee of $9,900 (inc. GST).
Written By, Portland Sky, Rebel Dane and Sweet Ride complete the NSW roster, offering breeders a mix of proven performance and emerging sires, catering for broader breeding requirements.
“We have a strong group of value option stallions who continue to perform,” Thompson said. “They offer breeders flexibility across pedigree and commercial appeal, while still producing quality yearlings and giving breeders the opportunity to race their own stock.”
Written By (Written Tycoon) continues to excel both in the sales ring and on the track with strong ongoing support from breeders again last season. He stands at a fee of $22,000 (inc. GST).
Portland Sky (Deep Field) has sired impressive first-crop winners Daryte and Portland Miss, with the latter set to contest the $200,000 Inglis 2YO Challenge (1200m) next week. He stands at a fee of $8,800 (inc. GST).
Rebel Dane (California Dane) is coming off his largest crop of two-year-olds to date and has already produced the promising stakes winner Rebel Tuesday. He stands at a fee of $6,600 (inc. GST).
Sweet Ride (Deep Field) will have the valued support of owners Bert and Gai Vieira, who will once again send him in the vicinity of 30 mares this year.
Trained by Annabel Neasham, Sweet Ride defeated subsequent Thousand Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Madame Pommery (No Nay Never) on debut as a summer two-year-old at Rosehill. He also finished runner-up in the Pago Pago Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) before coming back as a spring three-year-old to win the San Domenico Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) at Rosehill.
“Bert and Gai wanted to stand the horse at Widden through the relationship we’ve forged via Trapeze Artist,” Widden’s Matt Comerford told ANZ News. “To be able to stand him adds to our relationship but he wouldn’t be here if we didn’t think he was a really good hope.”
Sweet Ride will be covering his third book at a fee of $11,000 (inc. GST).
Southport Tycoon (Written Tycoon) heads the Widden Victoria roster at Romsey and is expected to be strongly supported by breeders as he covers his second book. The dual Group 1-winning son of Champion Sire Written Tycoon (Iglesia) covered 127 mares in his first season.
“We couldn’t be more pleased with the level of support he received, particularly the quality of mares in his first book,” Thompson explained. “The excitement around his first crop of foals is building, and he is an exceptionally well-credentialed stallion. We look forward to him attracting another strong book this season.”
Southport Tycoon stands at a fee of $33,000 (inc. GST).
Russian Camelot, Doubtland and Dirty Work continue to deliver strong results on the track with their three-year-old crops.
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Russian Camelot (Camelot) gelding Beyond Question placed at Group 3 level at Flemington second time out in February and followed up with an Albury Guineas (1400m) victory last month. He was reportedly sold to Hong Kong for $1 million, giving a strong indication of the continued progression of the Russian Camelot progeny.
More recently, Strangethingdesire was a front-running debut winner for Team Hawkes at Geelong last Wednesday and he looks to have a bright future for Montague Park’s Justin Lovatt.
Doubtland (Not A Single Doubt) continues to find favour in the sales ring – his top colt selling for $320,000 to X Bloodstock at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale. With 16 individual winners this season, he continues to offer strong value for breeders.
Dirty Work’s (Written Tycoon) juvenile division is performing strongly, highlighted by Never Ordinary winning the Dequetteville Stakes (Listed, 1050m) as an odds-on favourite at Morphettville last month. Dirty Work’s talented NZ filly Summer Schemer also won the Eagle Charters Stakes (1100m) at Ellerslie for trainer Shaun Ritchie in February.
Russian Camelot, Doubtland and Dirty Work all stand for $11,000 (inc. GST).
“It is exciting to see the promising results from their first two crops to race,” Thompson said of the trio. “Breeders have supported them well, and they are continuing to return value both in the sales ring and on the track.”
King Colorado (Kingman) enters his third season at stud with a strong line-up of foals from his first crop and early indications suggest the Group 1-winning two-year-old is well on track.
A son of Kingman (Invincible Spirit) boasting a deep and highly commercial pedigree, he was trained by Ciaron Maher to claim the J J Atkins Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) at Eagle Farm.
“The support we have received for King Colorado, both from shareholders and breeders, has given him an exceptional start,” Thompson said.
“The quality of his first crop is expected to drive an increase in mare numbers again this season, particularly at such strong value. Kingman continues to be a world-class sire and his sons are making an impact despite relatively limited opportunities.”
King Colorado stands for $13,200 (inc. GST).
Completing the Widden Victoria roster are Nicconi, Gold Standard and Bruckner.
Nicconi (Bianconi) has been a cornerstone of the Victorian operation since its launch and his 2026 sales results highlight continued commercial strength. His standout results include a $500,000 filly at Magic Millions Gold Coast and a $300,000 colt at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale.
“Nicconi is a marvel,” Thompson said. “While his book is now carefully managed, he remains incredibly fertile and continues to deliver exceptional results for his supporters. He will cover a book of 50 mares this year, and for breeders seeking proven commercial success, it’s hard to pass by a sire at this fee averaging over $100,000 at the yearling sales this season.”
Nicconi stands for $13,200 (inc. GST).
Gold Standard (Sebring) is represented by his largest crop of two-year-olds off the back of his Group 1-winning daughter Sheeza Belter. And the emergence of $1 million VOBIS Platinum Showdown (1200m) winner Big Wigs provides further excitement for his progeny moving forward.
Bruckner (Snitzel) topped the 2020 Melbourne Premier Sale as a yearling and his first-crop yearlings have also been well received this year, highlighted by a $120,000 colt out of Anuddawinna (Magnus) at the same sale in March.
The son of Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) won the McNeil Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) at Caulfield and was also a gallant second in the Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) behind Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m)-winning sire Home Affairs (I Am Invincible).
“We all knew what a good-looking yearling Bruckner was and to see Nick Ryan pay $120,000 for his colt out of Anuddawinna is very encouraging,” Thompson said. “In a tough market, the value on offer is clear, and the quality around his race record is undeniable.”
Gold Standard and Bruckner both stand for $5,500 (inc. GST).
“Our focus this year is firmly on the breeder, ensuring they have access to the best value options within the Widden roster,” Thompson added. “The team is happy to assist with mating plans, whether for sale or breed-to-race objectives, and we encourage breeders to reach out.”
Widden Stud 2026 stallion fees
| Stallion | Stud | State/Country | 2026 Service Fee (Aus inc GST; NZ excl GST) | 2025 Service Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zoustar (Northern Meteor) | Widden Stud | NSW | Unchanged | $275,000 |
| Trapeze Artist (Snitzel) | Widden Stud | NSW | $27,500 | $33,000 |
| Zousain (Zoustar) | Widden Stud | NSW | $22,000 | $27,500 |
| Written By (Written Tycoon) | Widden Stud | NSW | Unchanged | $22,000 |
| Jacquinot (Rubick) | Widden Stud | NSW | $19,800 | $24,200 |
| Sweet Ride (Deep Field) | Widden Stud | NSW | $11,000 | $9,900 |
| Anders (Not A Single Doubt) | Widden Stud | NSW | $9,900 | $13,200 |
| Supido (Sebring) | Widden Stud | NSW | Unchanged | $9,900 |
| Portland Sky (Deep Field) | Widden Stud | NSW | $8,800 | $16,500 |
| Rebel Dane (California Dane) | Widden Stud | NSW | $6,600 | $8,800 |
| Southport Tycoon (Written Tycoon) | Widden Stud | VIC | $33,000 | $38,500 |
| Nicconi (Bianconi) | Widden Stud | VIC | Unchanged | $13,200 |
| King Colorado (Kingman) | Widden Stud | VIC | $13,200 | $16,500 |
| Russian Camelot (Camelot) | Widden Stud | VIC | $11,000 | $16,500 |
| Doubtland (Not A Single Doubt) | Widden Stud | VIC | $11,000 | $13,200 |
| Dirty Work (Written Tycoon) | Widden Stud | VIC | $11,000 | $13,200 |
| Bruckner (Snitzel) | Widden Stud | VIC | $5,500 | $9,900 |
| Gold Standard (Sebring) | Widden Stud | VIC | Unchanged | $5,500 |





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