Due to overwhelming interest in exciting young sire prospect Star Witness, Widden Stud has decided to announce a service fee for the dual Group I winner before he competes at Royal Ascot next month.

“The fee will be set at $33,000 inc. GST for the 2011 season, so breeders now have an opportunity to lock in a booking before he competes in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes and the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot next month,” said Widden’s Antony Thompson.

"We have over 90 confirmed bookings in Star Witness to this point and the interest has been terrific. Some breeders have had the chance to inspect him already at Danny O’Brien’s Flemington stables, with the feedback incredibly positive, so we’re expecting he will have a full book before the season commences.

“He is such a good looking colt with a great race record who I believe can have a significant impact at stud."

Already a Group 1 winner of the MRC Blue Diamond Stakes and VRC Coolmore Stud Ascot Vale Stakes, Star Witness will be the only Australasian Group 1 winning two and three year-old to retire to stud this season and is outright favourite for the King's Stand Stakes and Golden Jubilee Stakes on a number of the International betting agencies.

Star Witness has been the eye-catcher at Flemington track-work in the last fortnight and is expected to have his final serious hit-out in an 800m jump out at Werribee this Friday before departing Melbourne on June 1st.

"Everything has gone to plan this preparation and we couldn't be happier with Star Witness,” said his trainer Danny O'Brien.

“He is such an explosive colt who gives you an enormous amount of confidence and the freshen up at Barwon Heads has done him the world of good, so I'm really looking forward to getting him on the Royal Ascot straight."

Picture: Quentin Lang