Cover image courtesy of Widden Stud
Sire of the dual Group 1 winner Global Glamour, Star Witness’ daughter Swift Witness made a statement in her 3-year-old debut at Randwick on Saturday when she accounted for a competitive lineup in the G2 Darley Silver Shadow S.
Star Witness was a logical choice for relocation when Widden Stud announced a major expansion plan and the establishment of a permanent Victorian base earlier this year when it took over the former Sun Stud property.
Star Witness | Standing at Widden Stud Victoria
Dual Group 1 winner
The stallion was trained in the state by Danny O’Brien and won the G1 Blue Diamond S. as a 2-year-old and the G1 Coolmore Stud S. the following season to earn his spot on the Widden roster.
“Star Witness will be serving his first season at Widden Victoria and back where he raced with so much success," Widden Principal Antony Thompson said.
"He’s proving popular there and he’s very good value for a proven stallion, he’s well-placed in the market.
"He’s (Star Witness) proving popular there (Victoria) and he’s very good value for a proven stallion, he’s well-placed in the market." - Antony Thompson
“This is a great result and he’s made another good start to the season with some really promising horses so it looks like he’s going to have a nice spring.”
Swift Witness became the 21st stakes winner for her sire with her win in the Silver Shadow S. He has an almost perfect split of colt stakes winners to fillies, with this win tipping the tally in the favour of the fairer sex.
However, it was the performance of one of his sons that added another string to Star Witness' bow in the 2020/21 season, with first-season sire son Star Turn excelling with his 2-year-olds. After siring 19 individual winners, it was only Capitalist who bettered the young Vinery stallion by winner count. He finished third in the overall 2-year-old premiership by total juvenile winners.
The coming season sees another Star Witness son leaving his mark in the breeding shed, with the talented sprinter Graff retiring to stand at Kitchwin Hills.
Nomination to Earthlight
Widden sold Swift Witness at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale on behalf of Tim Davis and Mark Corvo, who were involved in the Star Witness ownership group, for $260,000 with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott signing the ticket.
“Tim and Mark are very good friends and clients of ours and they raced Star Witness. They kept some shares and have supported him at stud and bred some nice horses,” Thompson said.
Antony Thompson | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
In taking out the first leg of the highly respected Darley Princess Series, Swift Witness secured an additional valuable prize for her breeders in the form of a nomination to first-season sire Earthlight (Ire). As part of their sponsorship of the lucrative race series, Darley are awarding a stallion nomination to the breeder of the winner of each leg, with the service to the undefeated juvenile and first-season sire Earthlight awarded to the winner in leg one.
Swift Witness now picks up seven points to lead the overall series tally, with Latino Blend (NZ) (Hinchinbrook) notching up three points for second and Four Moves Ahead (Snitzel) adding one point for her third position finish.
In addition, the filly who wins the entire series will secure a nomination to the owner's choice of Darley in the first season following retirement. That particular nomination remains attached to the filly herself.
2018 Series winner Fiesta (I Am Invincible) was sold at the Magic Millions National Sale earlier this year for $1.35 million, with a nomination to Exceed And Excel decided on following her sale.
| Swift Witness | 7 | 1st G2 Silver Shadow S. |
| Latino Blend | 3 | 2nd G2 Silver Shadow S. |
| Four Moves Ahead | 1 | 3rd G2 Silver Shadow S. |
Table: Darley Princess Series Leaderboard after Leg 1
The win also ensured Swift Witness' value as a broodmare prospect soared, joining an illustrious list of fillies to win the Group 2 event. Top winners of the event to go onto even greater heights include triple Group 1 winner Samantha Miss (Redoute's Choice), and dual Group 1 winners Gold Hunter (Lion Hunter) and Mnemosyne (Encosta De Lago). The latter, as dam of Group 1 winner Impending, is one of many on the honour roll to become a prolific producer.
Commanding pedigree
Swift Witness is a son of Taylor’s Command (Commands) who is a half-sister to the G2 Queen of the South S. winner So Pristine (Zabeel {NZ}) and the Singapore black-type winner Restored (Red Ransom {USA}).
The former New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year and G2 Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic winner Dijon Bleu (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) also features upfront in the pedigree.
Swift Witness was quick to show her talent last season and following a debut third in the R. Listed Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic, she won at the Gold Coast.
The filly subsequently finished runner-up in the G2 Reisling S. and was spelled after an unplaced run in the G1 Golden Slipper S. A trial win at Randwick earlier this month had her ready to shine first-up and draw first blood in the Princess Series on Saturday.
Swift Witness as a yearling
