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Widden stallion now the equal most expensive in Australia.
Zoustar has been among Australia's elite stallions for a number of seasons and that is reflected in his 2024 service fee, which is the equal-highest of any Australian stallion.
Widden Stud's banner resident will this year stand for $275,000, including GST, which is well up on last year's $220,000, and mirrors the figure that Yarraman Park this week attached to I Am Invincible.
Only I Am Invincible sits above Zoustar in the race for this season's Australian Champion Sire title with the son of Northern Meteor having experienced Group 1 success through the likes of Zougotcha, Ozzmosis, Joliestar and Climbing Star.
He is now one of the country's most commercially-viable stallions, having had seven $1m-plus yearlings his year and averaged a stunning $693,333 at last month's Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
"We have always had complete belief in the potential of Zoustar to become an Australian champion sire and we are delighted for all of our clients that have shared in his constantly evolving story of success," Widden principal Antony Thompson said.
"An increase in service fee in the financial climate we find ourselves needs to be measured and warranted and in the case of Zoustar he has truly earned it."
Zoustar heads he Widden roster at their Hunter Valley farm, which also includes Trapeze Artist at $55,000, which is unchanged from last year, while Zoustar's son Zousain is the other stallion to have had an increase, up to $27,500 from $22,000.
New to Widden's Victorian roster is last year's J J Atkins winner King Colorado, a son of Kingman, whose introductory fee will be $16,500.
Russian Camelot again heads that roster, unchanged at $19,800, while veteran stallion Nicconi, the sire of Nature Strip, has had a haircut from $22,000 to $16,500.
WIDDEN STALLIONS 2024 (last year's fee in brackets)
New South Wales
Zoustar $275,000 ($220,000)
Trapeze Artist $55,000 (unchanged)
Jacquinot $27,500 ($33,000)
Zousain $27,500 ($22,000)
Written By $22,000 ($27,500)
Portland Sky $19,800 ($22,000)
Supido $16,500 ($19,800)
Anders $16,500 (unchanged)
Rebel Dane $11,000 ($22,000)
Victoria
Russian Camelot $19,800 (unchanged)
Nicconi $16,500 ($22,000)
King Colorado $16,500 (new)
Doubtland $13,200 (unchanged)
Dirty Work $13,200 (unchanged)
Bruckner $11,000 (unchanged)
Gold Standard $9900 ($13,200)
Star Witness $8800 ($11,000)
Overshare $5500 ($8800)