The stars of the show were brand-new stallion recruits Russian Camelot (Ire) and Doubtland, who made their debuts in front of an appreciative crowd.
“It was an absolutely brilliant day,” Widden owner Antony Thompson said late on Sunday afternoon.
“There was a great turnout and a really positive response, which was exactly what we were hoping to see.
“Most importantly, there was a great response to the two new stallions, Russian Camelot and Doubtland. They were definitely the centre of attention today, and they were both extremely well received. Everybody seemed to be very impressed with both horses.”
Antony Thompson | Image courtesy of Inglis
Russian Camelot will stand at $22,000 (inc GST) at Widden Victoria this spring, while Doubtland will launch his career at $16,500 (inc GST). Widden have also announced that shares and lifetime breeding rights are being offered for the pair.
“The signs from Victorian breeders have already been extremely positive,” Thompson said. “We’ve offered some lifetime breeding rights for both of the new stallions, and in both cases we’ve already had really good traction.
“We’ve also had a number of really nice bookings come in already, so we’re really happy with how it’s gone and the signs have been very positive so far.”
“We’ve also had a number of really nice bookings come in already, so we’re really happy with how it’s gone and the signs have been very positive so far.” - Antony Thompson
Sunday’s launch came only three days after Widden announced the pair’s addition to their stallion ranks on Thursday of last week.
“We’re aiming to build a sustainable, commercial roster of sires for the Victorian market that can satisfy the needs of a wide range of breeders, and in Russian Camelot and Doubtland we have two outstanding prospects,” Thompson said.
Russian Camelot was bought for £120,000 (AU$225,371) at the 2018 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in England, and he made a massive impact in his 11-start racing career in Australia.
Russian Camelot (Ire) parading at Widden Victoria
His powerful victory in the G1 South Australian Derby made him the first ever 3-year-old bred in the Northern Hemisphere to win a Classic in Australia, and he later added the G1 Underwood S. as well as placings in the G1 Makybe Diva S., Caulfield S. and Cox Plate.
He finished his career with four wins and five placings from his 11 starts, earning more than $2.3 million in stakes.
By the outstanding sire Camelot (GB), Russian Camelot is out of Lady Babooshka (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) – an unraced three-quarter sister to the Group 2 winner and sire Alkaadhem (GB). All of Lady Babooshka’s three named foals are winners.
"A winner from 1400 to 2500 metres, Russian Camelot was a classic victor, a genuine weight-for-age champion, and his profile suggests to us he could ultimately be a similar style of sire to So You Think,” Thompson said.
Doubtland was a $1.1 million yearling purchase at the 2019 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, and he was unbeaten in two starts as a 2-year-old including a spectacular 4l romp in the G3 Kindergarten S.
He added the G2 Danehill S. to his resume in the spring of his 3-year-old season, and also finished third in the G2 Roman Consul S. and fourth in the G1 Coolmore Stud S.
Doubtland parading at Widden Victoria
Doubtland is out of Miss Sharapova (NZ) (Ustinov), who won four races, placed in the G3 Lowland S. and finished fourth in the G1 New Zealand Oaks. She is the dam of four winners from four foals to race, including Doubtland and his full sister Pretty Fast (Not A Single Doubt), who won the Listed Mode Plate in Brisbane.
“Doubtland was the most expensive yearling by Not A Single Doubt sold in 2019, and his win in the Kindergarten was by the biggest margin ever achieved by a colt in that race,” Thompson said.
The two new stallions are joined on Widden’s Victorian roster by proven sires Nicconi and Star Witness.
