Stratum’s Son Stars In Sir Rupert Clarke

A progressive competitor throughout his 3-year-old campaign, Stratum Star indicated there may be a Group 1 with his name on it when finishing third in the G1 Australian Guineas in March, and he fulfilled that promise Saturday. Earning his first stakes wins in the Listed Vintage S. and Listed Crown Lager S. both over this trip last October, Stratum Star recorded a pair of runner-up finishes in the G3 Carbine Club S. and G2 Sandown Guineas, both over a mile, to wrap up his spring campaign last year. The chestnut hit the board without winning in four starts last season, and he had the subsequent G1 Doncaster Mile and G1 George Main S. victor Kermadec (NZ) (Teofilo {Ire}) back in fourth when finishing third in the Australian Guineas. Seventh on his 4-year-old bow in the Listed Regal Roller S. over 1200 meters here Aug. 15, Stratum Star was narrowly beaten by Boban (Aus) (Bernardini) when third in the G1 Memsie S. two weeks later, and was let go at odds of 8-1 here. Emerging second on the outside as the field raced down the backstretch, Stratum Star and jockey Craig Williams allowed a trio of rivals to overtake them and sat fifth rounding the bend. The eventual winner found daylight at the top of the lane but looked for a few strides to be beaten by a fast-finishing Under The Louvre. That rival’s burst of speed fizzled out, however, and Stratum Star ground his way down the middle of the track to get his nose on the wire first. Trainer Darren Weir said Stratum Star would likely head to the G1 Toorak H. Oct. 10 next.

“That’s probably logically the next step,” he said. “It was just nice to get that one out the way.”

Williams, who was winning his fifth Sir Rupert Clarke, deflected praise onto his mount.

“Full credit to the horse; he did all the running,” the rider said. “He had to work from the outset, settle, be tight and got under pressure late, so full credit to Stratum Star. The horse stuck his head out. It was a great finish with three really good horses and I’m sure they’re in for some duels during the spring.”

Saturday, Caulfield, Australia
SIR RUPERT CLARKE S.-G1, A$402,000, MRC, 9-26, Open Handicap, 1400mT, 1:22.09, Good.
1–&@STRATUM STAR, 54.5, c, 4, by Stratum
1st Dam: Purely Spectacular (NZ), by Pins
2nd Dam: Vanilla Sky (NZ), by O’Reilly (NZ)
3rd Dam: Principation (NZ), by Prince Echo (IRE)
(A$165,000 Ylg 2013 MM Gold Coast Yearling Sale)
O-D Davidson, M Krauser, A Davidson, M Davidson,
Estate of C Peoples, I Berger, H Kalus, Dr N Siow,
M Wolper, A Yeo, S Cheng, Widden Stud Pty Ltd,
Balmerino Racing Partnership; B-Widden Stud
Australia Pty Ltd NSW; T-D K Weir; J-Craig Williams;
A$242,000. Lifetime Record: 18-4-5-4, A$643,460.
*1/2 to Serenade (Star Witness), GSP-Aus,
$144,750. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Disposition, 54.0, g, 4, Reset–Test Case, by Testa
Rossa. O-Peters Investments Pty Ltd Syndicate (Mgr:
R J & Mrs S L Peters); B-Peters Investments Pty Ltd
WA; T-Lee & Anthony Freedman; J-D Oliver;
A$72,000.
3–Under the Louvre, 55.5, h, 5, Excellent Art (GB)–
Barcelona Girl, by Noverre (USA) . (A$50,000 Ylg
2012 WI Classic Yearling Sale) O-R Lyons,
P Harrison, P Kean, G Breen, G Smith, J P Van
Duuren & Tilda Syndicate (Mgr: P J Brown); B-Mrs
DM Cobcroft NSW; T-R W Smerdon; J-M Zahra;
A$36,000.
Margins: 0.1 len, 0.2 len, 0.6 len. Odds: 8.00, 3.00, 4.50. Also Ran: Strawberry Boy, Charmed Harmony, Lucky Hussler, Fast ‘n’ Rocking, Abidewithme (NZ), Leebaz (NZ), Gregers, Amorino, Hopfgarten, Cosmic Endeavour, Bull Point, Rich Enuff, Amicus, We’re Gonna Rock, Petrology.
Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO.