There was a real mixture of tears and happiness for everyone at Widden Stud when the two year-old Supido colt named for the late Stud Manager David Merrick made a winning debut in the $250,000 Magic Millions Victoria 2YO Classic (1100m).
Bred by members of the Widden Stud staff, Unit Five was offered in the Widden draft at Magic Millions where he was snapped up by champion trainer Ciaron Maher for $80,000 and many of the Widden team elected to take a share in his ownership going forward.
With two jump out wins at Cranbourne, the most recent on Monday this week, punters were awake to Unit Five and when he drew gate three for his debut with Thomas Stockdale to ride the colt was installed favourite.
Unit Five delivered on potential when kicking away after turning for home to run right through the line winning by two and a half lengths.
Unit Five banked $137,500 for the win so has earned his place at the Gold Coast for the $3million Magic Millions 2YO Classic on January 17. He was given the nickname of much loved bloodstock industry figure David Merrick, who passed away at the start of this year, read more here.
"I'm just rapt in the horse's progression," Ciaron Maher said.
"We normally wouldn't trial them that close, but he seems to find things easy.
"I can't thank my team enough. I think that's our fourth pre-Christmas two-year-old winner for the year, so the system is working very well and I'm very thankful for them as at this time of year, the two-year-olds is what it's all about."
The stable already has spring stakes-winner Tornado Valley into the MM 2YO Classic and Unit Five looks likely to follow suit.
"This bloke, timing wise, we thought we could then send him to Sydney and then he would be on the right leg for the Millions, but we'll see how he comes through," Maher said.
"He's just so professional and I loved the way he presented and behaved himself in the yard.
"He was very calm behind the gates. He bounced and made Tom's job pretty easy.”
Unit Five is the second foal and first winner from En Aval, a winning mare by Toorak Toff that is a half-sister to the dam of juvenile stakes-winner Bellazaine from the family of Group II winner Villa Verde, the dam of this season’s flying Group winning filly My Gladiola.
It’s not the first time En Aval has produced the goods for Widden Stud’s yearling manager Liam Attwood, as he and his mates were well rewarded for her first foal, a colt by Anders that made $300,000 at Magic Millions in 2024.
Named Ulfberht, he is yet to race and while Unit Five was no where near his match in the sale ring, it’s been a different story on the track.
Purchased from a Magic Millions Online Sale in 2021 for just $9,500, En Aval has been the saleyard gift that keeps giving and produced a filly this spring by Exceedance and her yearling colt by Anders will be in the Widden draft for Inglis Premier as Lot 34.
Unit Five is the first winner from Supido’s current crop of two year-olds which are his biggest ever crop of foals, so expect to see an upswing in his fortunes over the next few years.
