Colts who are good enough to win at Group One level at two and three are few and far between which is why Widden Stud is delighted to announce the acquisition of high class colt Star Witness, who will retire to stud later this year.

“He’s a colt we have been watching for some time and we feel he is a perfect addition to our roster,” said Antony Thompson of Widden Stud, confirming the purchase of Star Witness.

“As a Group One winner of the Blue Diamond Stakes at two and then the Group One Coolmore Stud Ascot Vale Stakes at three, he has won the important sire making races - in fact Star Witness is the first colt in a decade to win a Group One at two and add another Group One at three in the same year, thus putting him in the same league as Redoute’s Choice.”

A son of champion miler Starcraft (NZ) from brilliant sprinter Leone Chiara, the Danny O’Brien trained Star Witness kicked off his career with three brilliant wins in succession, capped off with a scintillating whirlwind finish to snare the Group One MRC Blue Diamond Stakes, Victoria’s premier event for two year-olds.

In winning the Blue Diamond, Star Witness became the first Group One winner for his sire Starcraft (NZ), who very nearly made it back-to-back wins in the Blue Diamond with his classy daughter Hallowell Belle finishing second to Sepoy last Saturday.

From just two crops, Starcraft has already been represented by dual Group One winning filly We Can Say It Now in New Zealand as well as last weekend’s impressive SAJC Nitschke Stakes winner Ain’tnofallinstar.

Returning as a spring three year-old Star Witness stamped himself as the best three year-old sprinter in the land with a dominant two length win in the Group One VRC Coolmore Stud Ascot Vale Stakes over 1200 metres at Flemington, before finishing a gallant second to unbeaten champion Black Caviar seven days later in the Group One VRC Patinack Farm Classic with Group One winning star Hay List in arrears.

“Danny O’Brien has always maintained he is a better horse up the straight than around a bend and he will get the chance to prove that as we plan to run him in the Newmarket on March 12 against Black Caviar,” said Thompson.

“After that he will head to the UK to be given his shot at the best turf sprinters in the world at Royal Ascot and we would love to see him follow in the footsteps of past Aussie ambassadors such as Takeover Target, Haradasun, Miss Andretti, Scenic Blast and Starspangledbanner.”

Trainer Danny O’Brien added, “Having had the experience of taking a horse to the UK in recent years, I am extremely confident Star Witness is the perfect type to continue the success Australian bred sprinters have enjoyed over there.

“He is a pretty special colt, in fact he is the best I have ever had so I am delighted that his future career as a stallion will be at a successful nursery such as Widden.”

Star Witness will be retired following his international campaign and embark upon his first season at stud this spring at Widden with a service fee to be announced in due course.

Pictures: Quentin Lang