What successful studs did, reportedly? They put food on the table (12)

I believe the answer is:

breadwinners

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'what successful studs did reportedly? they' is the definition.
The definition suggests an adverb but the answer is not.

'food on the table' is the wordplay.
'food' becomes 'bread' (bread is a kind of food).
'on the table' becomes 'winners' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'bread'+'winners'='BREADWINNERS'

'put' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for breadwinners that I've seen is " wage-earners".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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