Written by Keely Mckitterick
Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
On Monday, Widden Stud announced the latest addition to its stallion roster: Sweet Ride, a son of Deep Field, will join the New South Wales base with a debut fee of $11,000 (inc GST).
Sweet Ride was a $320,000 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale graduate, purchased by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou. A tough and talented performer, Sweet Ride won twice as a 2-year-old and was placed in the G2 Pago Pago S.
As a 3-year-old, the son of Deep Field showed his class with a victory in the G3 San Domenico S. under the traineeship of Annabel Neasham. Additionally, Sweet Ride was placed in the G2 Run to the Rose behind the multiple Group 1 winner In Secret (I Am Invincible), before another placing in the G2 Roman Consul S.
Sweet Ride clears away in the G3 San Domenico S. | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Sweet Ride retires as a stakes performer at two, three, and four. His sire, Deep Field, has sired 30 stakes winners and was prematurely pensioned. Of course, Deep Field is a son of the outstanding and much-missed Northern Meteor, who stood at Widden Stud and was responsible for its brilliant stallion Zoustar.
Sweet Ride will be supported by Bert Vieira, who raced Widden Stud’s young Group 1-producing sire Trapeze Artist. “Bert and Gai Vieira own the horse 100 per cent, and it was their wish to stand the horse at Widden through the relationship we’ve forged via Trapeze Artist,” Widden Stud’s nominations and client relations manager Matt Comerford told TTR AusNZ.
Bert Vieira, Tye Angland (seated), Antony Thompson and Gerald Ryan
“Sweet Ride was born and bred at Widden, and we’ve obviously followed his career closely. He was a fast and talented horse with form around good horses like In Secret and Best Of Bordeaux.
“Bert will get right behind the horse and support him heavily, just like he has done with Australia’s current leading second-season sire, Trapeze Artist.
“Bert will get right behind the horse (Sweet Ride) and support him heavily, just like he has done with Australia’s current leading second-season sire, Trapeze Artist.” - Matt Comerford
“Widden have had a lot of success with the Northern Meteor sireline, so we typically know the mares that suit to get the best outcomes for breeders.”
Describing Sweet Ride physically, Comerford said, “He’s an attractive, short-coupled speed horse, a chestnut with plenty of white markings. He’s a real flashy type that catches the eye. He has the racetrack credentials and pedigree to make his mark at stud, and we’re thrilled to be standing him.”
Sweet Ride (pictured when racing) will stand for $11,000 inc GST in 2024 | Standing at Widden Stud, image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Additionally, Sweet Ride’s owner Vieira said, “I am excited to have another stallion standing at Widden. Sweet Ride was an exceptionally fast horse and performed at stakes level his entire career. I have earmarked 30 mares for him already, which include two sisters to Champion Sprinter Trapeze Artist. He will be given every chance.”
