Widden Stakes announces 2025 Stud Fees

Zoustar will once again lead the Widden Stud stallion roster in 2025, maintaining his service fee at $275,000, the stud announced on Thursday.

Currently ranked as the world’s leading sire of winners in 2024, Zoustar has continued to impress on the track. His offspring, including Joliestar and Schwarz, have both secured Group 1 victories this season. The likes of Growing Empire and Right To Party have also added to his tally, bringing his total to 13 individual Stakes winners since August.

Widden Stud’s Antony Thompson praised the stallion’s dual influence in both racing and sales.

“Zoustar is a champion sire for both the racetrack and sale ring and his progeny have the precocity Australian buyers expect, coupled with the constitution to see them train on, with outstanding four-year-olds Joliestar and Schwarz collecting Group 1 wins this season,” Thompson said.

“He has covered books of outstanding mares in recent years as his star has continued to rise and we believe he is well placed to establish his standing amongst the great Australian sires of this century.”

The stud also announced debut service fees for newcomers to its roster. Southport Tycoon, who will spearhead Widden’s Victorian stallions, has been set at $38,500, while American shuttle stallion Cogburn will stand at $27,500 in the Hunter Valley.

In an effort to provide some financial relief to breeders, Widden has lowered fees for a number of its other stallions. These include Trapeze Artist ($33,000), Russian Camelot ($16,500), Jacquinot ($24,200), Bruckner ($9900), Portland Sky ($16,500), and proven Group 1 sire Nicconi ($13,200).