The catalog for May's Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale continues to strengthen with the addition of group 1 winner Startantes, offered in foal to Australia's nine-time group 1-winning champion, Anamoe (Street Boss).
To be presented as part of the Widden Stud draft, Startantes was prepared by leading Queensland trainer Robert Heathcote during her racing career and was a multiple winner at 2 before rising to the elite level at 3, where she consistently performed against the best of her generation and secured her top-level victory in the 2022 Tiara (G1) at Eagle Farm.
She also finished a narrow second in the 2022 Surround Stakes (G1) and placed in the 2021 Flight Stakes (G1), performances which saw her crowned joint champion 3-year-old Filly of Australia in the 2021-22 season.
Startantes is out of the group 2-winning mare Funtantes, who has produced six winners from six runners—all metropolitan winners—highlighting the remarkable consistency and strength of the family. The page received a timely update with her full brother Fabulantes since being a group performer.
"To secure a group 1-winning sprinter-miler, who was at the very top of her generation, carrying her first foal to Anamoe—a champion racehorse and a young stallion with all the credentials to develop into a leading sire of the future, is rare," said Widden Stud's Antony Thompson.
Widden Stud has also confirmed Angus Armanasco Stakes (G2) winner Sassy Boom; Sisstainable, a stakes performer and close relation to Sunlight, and stakes winner Hard Rock Girl, in foal to Zoustar, among a strong draft set to head north for the sale.
"Startantes was extremely well bought previously, and the page has continued to develop since, with her full brother looking to follow in her footsteps over the upcoming Autumn and Brisbane carnivals," said Magic Millions managing director Barry Bowditch.
"We've seen what Anamoe can achieve with quality mares in the sale ring this year and only anticipate the demand for his stock to continue rising as his runners hit the racetrack later in the year. We've also seen the impact first-season sires can make on the racetrack with their first crop, highlighted again over the weekend in the Golden Slipper, and that only adds to the appeal in Startantes."
Startantes joins a classy line-up already confirmed for the National Broodmare Sale, including elite racetrack performers Legarto, O' Ole, Stretan Angel, and Vibrant Sun. The two-day sale will be held May 26-27.
