Anders, who is trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, has emerged as the potential star 3-year-old sprinter of the spring with comprehensive victories in both the Listed Rosebud and the G3 San Domenico S.
His next task will be the G1 Moir S. while his owners are hopeful of earning a slotholder's attention for Australia's richest race, the $15 million The Everest at Randwick on October 17.
After a competitive bidding process conducted by Aquis, Widden has secured a deal to race him in partnership with the existing ownership group, which involved Loretta Fung, the wife of Aquis chairman Tony Fung, as well as Eileen Maher, the mother of trainer Ciaron, and a host of others including G1G Breeding and Racing.
"We are very happy. He's a beauty and is the sort of horse that Widden has had so much success with. He fits that profile of a high-class sprinter, a very good-looking horse physically and he's got a great pedigree which we can do a lot with. We are very excited about him," Thompson told TDN AusNZ.
"He fits that profile of a high-class sprinter, a very good-looking horse physically and he's got a great pedigree which we can do a lot with. We are very excited about him." - Antony Thompson
"It’s the speed that really excited us. He has the bit of x-factor about him, that bit of wow. He's a wow horse the way he can travel and quicken off that high cruising speed. That's something that really appeals to us and it’s something that has been really successful."
Anders, a winner of four of his eight starts in the Aquis colours, will race on in Widden's colours of orange with a purple cap, with Maher and Eustace to continue his preparation.
"They've done a good job with him and they are a big part of the journey going forward," Thompson said of the training partnership.
"We've joined the existing owners going forward and we may bring one or two other people with us, other breeders who support us in these type of deals.
"We are looking forward to racing him on this year and seeing where that takes us. The Moir will be a nice test for us and then we can look at our options from there."
The potential deal for Anders has been the talk of the thoroughbred industry since his impressive win in the San Domenico, with several major studs interested. Thompson said Widden was determined to make sure he would end up at the historic farm.
"It seemed most of the major farms had either made an offer or expressed an interest in him. It did take a bit of determination to get the deal done, but for us, he's the horse we have been waiting for and he was a really good fit, so we were very determined to secure him," he said.
He becomes the third colt which Aquis has sold down or out on in the past month after Kia Ora Stud acquired an interest in G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Farnan (Not A Single Doubt) and then purchased Prague (Redoute's Choice) outright.
A perfect fit for Widden
Thompson is confident that Anders, when ready to retire to stud, will fit in nicely alongside a young and exciting roster at Widden.
"I think he is a great addition to our line-up. Last year, we were lucky to add Trapeze Artist and Written By, two very exciting young stallions. This year Zousain is a great addition and he has been very well received and we are looking forward to Anders next year," he said.
Widden also stands Zoustar, Nicconi, Outreach, Star Witness, Stratum Star, Supido and Your Song.
Aquis Farm and Ciaron Maher Racing paid $670,000 for Anders at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Bred by Arrowfield, Anders is out of the unraced War Emblem (USA) mare Madam Andree, who was held in high regard by trainer Paul Messara before she broke down prior to getting to the track.
Her dam, Glamour Stock (Jpn) (Sunday Silence {USA}), was served by War Emblem to Southern Hemisphere time before arriving in Australia. She is a half-sister to four American stakes winners, including G1 Met Mile winner Exciting Story (USA) (Diablo {USA}).
Thompson said the international aspect of the pedigree had also been a key factor in the decision to secure Anders as a stallion prospect.
"There's Mr Prospector there and Sunday Silence. You've got lots of interesting options in the pedigree. Certainty when we looked at him, he compared a good cross section of our mares, he's a horse that mates very well. In time, I think we will enjoy mating him to those mares," he said.
At the moment, there are just three sons of Not A Single Doubt standing in Australia, Dubious at Aquis, Extreme Choice at Newgate and Squamosa at Sun Stud, with Farnan and Anders likely to join them in the next couple of years.
