Zoustar joins Champion Sire honour roll
Zoustar has achieved the ultimate breeding accolade, officially crowned as Australia’s Champion Stallion for the 2024/25 season. The Widden Stud resident halted the three-year reign of I Am Invincible with an outstanding $26.3 million in progeny earnings and a total of 335 race wins, the highest of any stallion.
Widden principal Antony Thompson said the result was a historic moment for the farm. “It’s an enormous achievement. Widden has a proud history of standing champion sires, but it’s almost 35 years since Marscay last won this title. For Zoustar to do it at just 15 years old makes it even more exciting,” Thompson said. “He is still young, so there’s a lot more to look forward to.”
Zoustar narrowly trailed I Am Invincible for individual winners (198 to 203) but surpassed him for total victories. His standout progeny included dual Group 1 winner Joliestar, top earner Growing Empire, and William Reid Stakes winner Schwarz. Zoustar, standing this season at $275,000 including GST, now joins I Am Invincible, Snitzel and Written Tycoon as the only stallions to have claimed the award in the past nine years, while also following in the footsteps of grandsire Encosta De Lago, a dual winner in 2007 and 2008.
It was also a memorable year for other sires. Ole Kirk, a son of Written Tycoon standing at Vinery Stud, secured Champion First-Season Sire honours after producing Breeders Plate winner King Kirk and Magic Millions heroine O’ Ole. Darley’s Too Darn Hot claimed the second-season title, while Harry Angel took out the third-season award.
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