One of the most remarkable achievements in Widden Stud history early last century was the amazing number of winners produced by resident sire Grafton.

At a time when the birth of 30 or more foals by one sire was rare Grafton supplied the winners in one season of 205½ races from 71 individual winners in 1909-10 and 204½ (81) in 1910-11.

He was the first sire in Australian history to reach double century wins in one year and he also set a new record for individual winners with 86 successful in 182 ½ races in 1908-09.

Grafton held the individual winners record until Smokey Eyes, the Irish bred sprinter by Star Kingdom’s sire Stardust, chalked up 88 winners of 188 ½ races from his use at Lyndhurst Stud in1967-68.

Dashing grey Stratum (pictured) gelding Divine Calling has been on a sharp form upswing this preparation, his latest success coming at Moonee Valley on Friday night with a tenacious win in the Group II MVRC Stutt Stakes over 1600 metres.

Prepared by Gai Waterhouse, Divine Calling resumed with a fifth in the Group III MRC McNeil Stakes and followed with an easy win at Moonee Valley on September 14, priming him for this tougher assignment.

Partnered by Damien Oliver, Divine Calling finished strongly from back in the field to grab Shamus Award right on the line to win by a nose and then had to withstand a protest to hold the race.
“Really good win,” said stable representative Roger Elliott.

Pictured: Five-time Group 1 winner It's A Dundeel (PHOTO: Steve Hart)

The Transtasman Syndicate, which owns five-time Group 1 winner It’s A Dundeel (High Chaparral-Stareel, by Zabeel), announced today that its champion entire will stand at Arrowfield Stud in the Hunter Valley of NSW in 2014, after he has finished racing. Syndication of the stallion will be considered at a later time.

The sensational 4YO, who defeated 10 Group 1 winners in Saturday’s MRC Underwood S. 1800m G1, will continue his Spring campaign for the Transtasman Syndicate. He remains in the care of trainer Murray Baker and his major target is the MVRC W.S. Cox Plate G1 on 26 October.

Arrowfield’s Chairman John Messara says, "It’s A Dundeel’s pedigree combines the brilliance and classic stamina of Sadler’s Wells and Zabeel infused with the incomparable speed of Luskin Star to create a racehorse of superlative quality over a range of distances.

In resounding news for the Australian breeding industry, it has been announced that international conglomerate, Sun International Group, has purchased leading stud farm, Eliza Park.

To be now known as Eliza Park International Pty Ltd, the organisation retains its current lineup of 12 stallions, while the divisions on each of its six farms in Victoria and Queensland will also continue to function in similar manner.

Sun Kingdom's Ting Kong Cheng, said he is delighted to have acquired Eliza Park and is very excited about the stud's future and his company's involvement in the Australian thoroughbred industry.