Widden Stud has purchased Group 1 sprinter Wanted from owner Eddie Hayson.  The sale was announced just prior to the Fastnet Rock colt finishing a close fourth in the G1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.  

“Wanted has been on our list of sire prospects for some time now and we are delighted to have finalized his purchase,” Widden owner Antony Thompson revealed.  “He is a horse with enormous talent, phenomenal good looks and his sire Fastnet Rock is seen by many as a potential replacement for Danehill.”

Wanted (3c Fastnet Rock – Fragmentation by Snippets) was runner-up to All Silent in the G1 VRC Patinack Farm Stakes during the spring carnival and returned this year for seconds to Nicconi in the G1 VRC Lightning Stakes and Turffontein in the G1 MVRC William Reid Stakes.

The Peter Moody trained colt ranged up to the leaders at the furlong in the Oakleigh Plate and was only beaten a half-length in a blanket finish.  He deserves a big race victory and gets another chance to succeed at the elite level in the G1 Newmarket Handicap at Flemington in March.

At $800,000, Wanted was the most expensive yearling from Fastnet Rock’s first crop and will be his first son to go to stud.  

Fastnet Rock is currently covering his first northern season at Coolmore in Ireland for a fee of 35,000 euros (AUD 52,950).  The son of Danehill has already sired 18 stakes performers and is way out in front of the Australian second season sires’ premiership in the winners category.

Fastnet Rock will serve a limited number of mares in Ireland following a huge book of 272 mares at Coolmore Australia in the spring.  “It will be a good starting point for him,” Coolmore Australia’s manager Michael Kirwan said.  “He’s probably the most exciting young stallion in the land, and we’re talking about him covering between 50 and 60 mares in Ireland.”

Wanted’s dam Fragmentation was a Listed winner at Flemington and was also G3 placed at Moonee Valley in the C S Hayes Stakes.  Second dam Southern Sprinter (Southern Appeal) is a winning sister to Listed Morphettville Guineas winner In The Mist.  The latter is the dam of G2 VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner De Lago Mist (Encosta de Lago).

Eddie Hayson will retain an interest in Wanted when he retires at the end of the autumn carnival.  “We considered many options but we’re thrilled he will go to Widden,” Hayson Bloodstock manager Mick Fagan said.  “We have a huge belief in Wanted as a sire prospect and look forward to a long and fruitful association with Widden Stud.”