News

Widden Stud Mourn Loss of General Nediym

26th Jan 2009

Widden Stud - Press Release - Monday, 26 January 2009

Widden Stud is in mourning following the loss of outstanding sire General Nediym, who was euthanized on Monday morning following a recurrence of the colic he suffered last month.

“He became uncomfortable again last night and despite the best veterinary efforts to save him there was nothing that could be done,” said Antony Thompson.

General Nediym covered 148 mares last spring at a fee of $60,500 before having his season curtailed as the result of a serious bout of colic, which required surgery on December 3.

A dual Group One winner of the VRC Newmarket Handicap and Lightning Stakes, General Nediym won 13 races and more than $2million in prizemoney for the Ashdown family who bred and raced him throughout his career.

By Nediym (IRE) from the Without Fear (Fr) mare Military Belle, General Nediym blazed through his first half dozen starts unbeaten claiming the 1997 Magic Millions Two Year Old Classic as a raging hot favourite.

Fourth in the Group One STC Golden Slipper Stakes, General Nediym returned at three to win his next four races in succession before finishing third in the Group One VATC Caulfield Guineas and then struck career best form in the autumn with wins in the VRC Newmarket Handicap and Lightning Stakes.

Retired to stud in 1999, General Nediym was the Champion First Season Sire in 2002/2003, proving a consistent source of quality winners despite moving from Queensland, to Victoria and back to New South Wales, settling at Widden Stud in 2004.

With better quality books of mares General Nediym was a sire on the up, finishing the 2007/2008 season as the leading sire of individual two year-old winners (15) and two year-old stakes-winners (5).

“We always believed he would be a great asset for Widden and the increased opportunities we could provide would take him to another level as a sire and I think we are only just starting to see that with his oldest Widden bred progeny now three year-olds,” said Thompson.

A top class sire, who was a ‘life changing’ horse for all those who came in contact with him, General Nediym was 14 years of age and will be sadly missed by his owners the Ashdown family and all at Widden.