A century of Widden breeding is powering Zougotcha towards Group 1 glory in the Coolmore Classic
Zougotcha faces a huge task to add her name to the record books of Coolmore Classic winners but with a century of Widden Stud bloodlines behind her, she is ready for the challenge.
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There are 16 headstones on Widden Stud that line the roadway to the stallion complex at the famous Hunter Valley property.
Most commemorate the great sires that have stood there including Vain, Marscay, Valais, Lunchtime, General Nediym and Salieri.
But there are two headstones reserved for a couple of special broodmares who are interwoven in the rich tapestry of Widden history – Medmenham and Chaperone.
Medmenham, the genesis of this story, was born 100 years ago in Ireland. She was later sent to Australia where she became an acclaimed producer at stud and her influence is still felt to this day.
At Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, Zougotcha, the favourite for the Group 1 $1 million Coolmore Classic (1500m), is the link between Widden’s past and present.
Zougotcha, who has a century of Widden tradition coursing through her veins, is a direct descendant on her dam’s side to Medmenham.
Widden Stud supremo Antony Thompson, the breeder and part-owner of Zougotcha, provided an insight into the influential Medmenham and the ill-fated Chaperone.
“Medmenham is the dam of Ajax and her family has been around for a long time,” Thompson said. “It’s great to see it coming to light again with Zougotcha and others.
“Chaperone was a daughter of Ajax and a terrific sprinter. Sadly, she died quite young when carrying her first foal.
“They are two important mares that meant a lot to my family and have headstones on the stud alongside the stallions.”
Medmenham’s champion son Ajax won 36 of his 46 starts, with 22 of his wins in races that have Group 1 status in the modern era including the 1937 Rosehill and Caulfield Guineas, 1938 Cox Plate and Newmarket Handicap, three Futurity Stakes (1938-39-40), three Underwood Stakes (1938-39-40) and three All Aged Stakes (1938-39-40).
Despite his phenomenal race record, Ajax is best remembered for his shock defeat at 1/40 on in the 1939 Rawson Stakes when he was run down by Spear Chief – a result that is still regarded as the biggest upset in Australian racing history.
Ajax, a grandson of Valais, was retired to Widden Stud and sired Magnificent, winner of the 1945 AJC Derby and Victoria Derby, the 1950 Epsom Handicap winner Achilles, and the brilliant Chaperone, winner of the Ascot Vale Stakes, Merson Cooper Stakes and The Shorts in 1946.
Zougotcha returns with a bang! @mcacajamez and @cwallerracing take out the Millie Fox Stakes 👠pic.twitter.com/1FC98Oypn5
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) February 24, 2024
Bing Crosby, the famous American singer and actor, and an enthusiastic racehorse owner and breeder, purchased Ajax and stood him at stud in the United States where the stallion met with moderate success.
Ajax, the striking chestnut, was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame in 2004. The Group 2 $300,000 Ajax Stakes (1500m) is named in the champion’s honour and is the main support race on the Coolmore Classic program.
Zougotcha is the latest topliner to emerge from the renowned Medmenham family. She is already a Group 1 winner of the Flight Stakes two years ago and won the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes at this Rosehill meeting last year.
The talented Chris Waller-trained Zougotcha is the epitome of Widden’s breeding program as she is by resident champion sire Zoustar out of their proven broodmare Fast Talker.
Zoustar was an outstanding sprinter and won twice at Group 1 level during the 2013 spring carnival with his wins in the Coolmore Stud Stakes and Golden Rose.
He’s still a relatively young stallion but has already sired 44 individual stakes winners including this season’s crack three-year-old colt Ozzmosis, winner of the Coolmore Stud Stakes last spring, and the outstanding mare Sunlight, winner of three Group 1 races including the 2018 Coolmore Stud Stakes.
Widden also bred and shared in the ownership of Sunlight’s full sister, Sisstar, a dual stakes winner herself who is now part of Widden’s broodmare band.
Fast Talker, a daughter of Fastnet Rock who is closely related to 2010 Golden Slipper winner Crystal Lily, is already the dam of three stakeswinners with Zougotcha her standout.
Zougotcha is the $4 favourite with TAB Fixed Odds to win the Coolmore Classic - but she doesn’t have race history on her side.
She has been burdened with topweight of 57kg and only three winners of the Coolmore have carried more weight to win the race and they were champions – Emancipation under 60kg in 1984, Bounding Away with 57.5kg in 1987 and Sunline twice under 60kg in 2000 and 2002.
The record of the race’s number one saddlecloth wearer is also a concern with the great Sunline the last winner in 2000 and 2002. The race has hardly been kind to favourites, either, with none successful since Aloha in 2011.
History also shows that although the Coolmore Classic has undergone a number of name changes since it was introduced in 1974, it remains a significant race and breed-shaper.
The Coolmore Classic was the first Australian Group 1 race for fillies and mares only and the winners of the race become sought-after broodmares.
In fact, 13 per cent of Coolmore Classic winners who have had three or more foals at stud have produced a Group 1 winner and 52 per cent have produced stakes winners – both remarkable statistics.
Thompson revealed he covets the Coolmore Classic more than most feature races.
“We have a couple of Coolmore trophies in the house but they are from Flemington with Zoustar and Sunlight,” Thompson said.
“But the Coolmore Classic is a race we would love to win with Zougotcha. It means a lot for a potential broodmare.
“It’s only early days for her stallion, Zoustar, as a broodmare sire but he’s already had a stakeswinner with Holmes A Court winning the Black Opal Stakes in Canberra last Sunday.
Sunline became the first Australasian horse to win $9 million in prize money when she claimed her second Coolmore Classic in 2002! #TBTpic.twitter.com/dhJNZz1qX9
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) March 9, 2017
He is going to be a great broodmare sire.”
Zougotcha had an outstanding three-year-old classic season but struggled as a spring four-year-old when she was initially being aimed at The Everest.
But after three unplaced runs, Waller decided to send Zougotcha back to the spelling paddock and the mare has returned a rejuvenated racehorse with an impressive first-up win over Lady Laguna in the Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes.
Lady Laguna has subsequently franked the form by beating Think It Over and Espiona in the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes last week.
“Zougotcha had one of those preparations last spring, she just never really came up,” Thompson said.
“Sometimes mares can do that so we gave her a nice spell and she is back to her winning ways.
“She was very good first-up because Lady Laguna is tough and hard to get in front of so we were pleased to beat her last start.
“It seems Zougotcha is back to her best but in these mares Group 1 handicaps they come from everywhere, they are hard races to win.
“Hopefully she can carry that weight (57kg) and run another good race in the Coolmore Classic.”
Waller won his first Coolmore Classic with Espiona 12 months ago and has four very good chances to win the race again on Saturday although the betting suggests Zougotcha is clearly the stable’s number one seed.
Sydney’s premier trainer will also saddle up Vienna Princess ($15), Hinged ($16) and Madame Pommery ($31).
“Zougotcha was brilliant first-up and she is a Phar Lap Stakes winner over the course and distance,” Waller said.
“Vienna Princess is coming along nicely and will appreciate the extra distance and Madame Pommery showed a welcome return to form last start.
“Hinged hasn’t had much luck in the Coolmore the last two years. She’s had bad barriers and other circumstances go against her. She is down in the weights a little this year which should give her a big chance.”
Thompson will be hoping it is Zougotcha leading home her stablemates and their other Coolmore Classic rivals in Saturday’s big race.
Widden is offering a chestnut colt by Written Tycoon who is a half-brother to Zougotcha as Lot 24 of the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale at Warwick Farm’s Riverside complex on April 7.
“With Zougotcha winning first-up, there is a sense of timing about Fast Talker’s colt we have at Easter,” Thompson said.
“After she had Zougotcha, the mare slipped to Trapeze Artist then missed to Zoustar before she had her Written Tycoon colt. She is back in foal to Zoustar.”
Thompson hopes Zougotcha will eventually join Widden Stud’s elite broodmare band that includes Mizzy, Madame Rouge and 2018 Coolmore Classic winner Daysee Doom.
“We would love it if the partnership stayed together and one day we can breed from Zougotcha,” Thompson said.
Originally published as A century of Widden breeding is powering Zougotcha towards Group 1 glory in the Coolmore Classic
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