Russian Camelot and Doubtland on the roster at Widden Victoria

The dual Group 1 winner Russian Camelot (Ire) and brilliant sprinter Doubtland will debut at the official launch of Widden Stud Victoria and its first Open Day this Sunday.

It was only a month ago that Widden Stud announced it would be taking over the former Eliza Park property near Kerrie in Victoria, and true to the word of Antony Thompson at the time, the roster expansion has come quickly with the announcement of two new recruits.

The exceptionally talented Russian Camelot secured two Group 1 victories in an 11 start career and he will be joined by precocious sprinter Doubtland at the Victorian property.

Russian Camelot will stand at $22,000 (inc GST), while Doubtland will launch his career at $16,500 (inc GST). Widden have also announced that shares and lifetime breeding rights are being offered.

“We’re aiming to build a sustainable commercial roster of sires for the Victorian market that can satisfy the needs of a wide range of breeders and in Russian Camelot and Doubtland we have two outstanding prospects,” said Widden Stud owner and proprietor Antony Thompson.

Russian Camelot had an unusual profile when he debuted with a win at Ballarat in October 2019, although officially aged three in the racebook, he was actually only two years and seven months old. The colt, born in Ireland and purchased by Jermey Brummitt for 120,000 gns (AU$239,400) at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale with Danny O'Brien and partners, would go on to become the only Northern Hemisphere-bred 3-year-old to win an Australian Derby.

He returned in the spring with a gallant second in the G1 Makybe Diva S before claiming his second Group 1 victory, at only his seventh start, in the G1 Underwood S.

"A winner from 1400 to 2500 metres, he was a Classic victor, a genuine weight-for-age champion and his profile suggests to us he could ultimately be a similar style of sire to So You Think,” said Thompson.

His final appearance was a first-up second in the $5 million The All-Star Mile, beaten 0.5l by Mugatoo (Ire) (Henrythenavigator {USA}). Soon after it was announced that the colt would be retired immediately, due to a tendon injury sustained in the race.

“I think he’s the best horse I’ve had anything to do with, particularly to do so much so early in his career,” trainer Danny O’Brien said.

“He’s got charisma, if you’ve ever seen him close-up at the races, he just looks the part. He is a horse that just turned up in any weather and under any conditions, gave his all and never let anyone down. He was just an outstanding racehorse."

Doubtland adds million-dollar looks

A quality yearling, Doubtland was secured for $1.1 million from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale by Hawkes Racing.

He didn't take long to show his ability, winning on debut in March of his 2-year-old year then following that up with a decisive victory in the G3 Kindergarten S. Returning at three with a fifth behind fellow Widden Stud first-season sire Anders in the G3 San Domenico S., Doubtland headed south to secure the G2 Danehill S. at Flemington before finishing fourth in the G1 Coolmore Stud S.

“He was the most expensive yearling by Not A Single Doubt sold in 2019 and his win in the Kindergarten was by the biggest margin ever achieved by a colt in that race,” said Thompson.

Doubtland's pedigree is also sure to hold immense appeal to breeders, being a son of outstanding sire Not A Single Doubt whose own son Extreme Choice sired G1 Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside from his first crop.

His damline is also rich in quality, being from the Group-placed Miss Sharapova (Ustinov), a half-sister to top sprinter Villa Verde who is also by Not A Single Doubt. Further back, this is the family of exceptional juvenile and stallion Rory's Jester.