Widden Stud has announced the acquisition of Group 1 winning sprinter Star Witness.  “He’s a colt we have been watching for some time and feel he is a perfect addition to our roster,” Widden’s Antony Thompson said.

A son of champion miler Starcraft from brilliant sprinter Leone Chiara, the Danny O’Brien trained Star Witness kicked off his career with three brilliant wins in succession, capped off with a whirlwind finish in the G1 MRC Blue Diamond Stakes.

Returning as a spring three year-old Star Witness stamped himself as the best three year-old sprinter in the land with a dominant two length win in the G1 VRC Ascot Vale Stakes at Flemington, before finishing a gallant second to Black Caviar seven days later in the G1 VRC Patinack Farm Classic.

“Danny O’Brien has always maintained he is a better horse up the straight than around a bend and he will get the chance to prove that as we plan to run him in the Newmarket against Black Caviar,” said Thompson.  “After that he will head to the UK to be given a shot at the best turf sprinters in the world at Royal Ascot.”

Star Witness will be retired following his international campaign and embark upon his first season at stud this spring at Widden.

“I am extremely confident Star Witness is the perfect type to continue the success Australian bred sprinters have enjoyed over in England,” O’Brien added.  “He is a pretty special colt, in fact he is the best I have ever had so I am delighted that his future career as a stallion will be at a successful nursery such as Widden.”

Star Witness was the first colt in a decade to win a Group 1 as a two and three year-old in the same year.  It put him in the same league as Redoute’s Choice.

From just two crops, Starcraft has already been represented by Group 1 winning filly We Can Say It Now in New Zealand as well as last weekend’s impressive SAJC Nitschke Stakes winner Ain’tnofallinstar.