News

Northern Meteor Retired and Fee Set

21st Apr 2009

Widden Stud - Release - Wednesday, 22 April 2009

Record-breaking sprinter Northern Meteor has run his last race with connections electing to retire the son of Encosta de Lago to Widden Stud on a high, following his gallant second behind Takeover Target in the Group One AJC TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick last Saturday.

“The colt’s owner Mr Cojuangco has taken the decision to retire Northern Meteor immediately with the likelihood of a wet track this coming Saturday providing little opportunity for the star colt to show his best if he were to start in the All Aged Stakes,” said Antony Thompson.

“We saw in the spring what an outstanding sprinter this horse is and we saw it again at Randwick last Saturday when he beat all but a legend in Takeover Target, in what was arguably the strongest sprint line-up assembled this season.”

On a track rated dead, Takeover Target clocked a race record 1:09.09 for the 1200 metres to defeat Northern Meteor with a further three lengths back to Group One winners Apache Cat, Nicconi, Racing to Win and Bel Mer.

The fastest son of champion sire Encosta de Lago to look through a bridle, the Gai Waterhouse trained Northern Meteor retires to stud with the overall record of three wins and two placings from nine starts with earnings of $532,480 and a place in the history books as the track record holder at Randwick over 1200 metres.

On that occasion last spring, Northern Meteor zoomed across the turf at light speed to set a new record at 1:08.32 when he captured the Listed AJC Sir Brian Crowley Stakes by five lengths on a good surface. Sent straight to Melbourne, Northern Meteor added the Group One VRC Coolmore Ascot Vale Stakes at Flemington to his resume stamping himself as the best three year-old sprinting colt of his generation.

“It’s the speed of how quickly he accelerates that is the exciting thing about him. With his pedigree and looks, he is the complete package, a truly amazing colt,” said Gai Waterhouse.

Northern Meteor will stand his debut season at a fee of $30,000 plus GST.

Widden Release.