Victorian champion trainer Darren Weir took his dominance cross-country on Saturday to plunder Perth's G1 Kingston Town Classic–the Melbourne Cup-winning conditioner's first Group 1 win in that state. For Stratum Star, it was a second win at the highest level–the first coming in the September 2015 Sir Rupert Clarke S. at Caulfield–and a first win of any kind since last October's G3 David Jones Cup at the same course. Stratum Star was spelled after beating just one home in last October's G1 Mackinnon S. at the spring carnival, and mostly made a good account of himself despite failing to win in six autumn and winter outings, placing four times. Stratum Star kicked off this campaign with a tame eighth over a too-short 1200 metres in the Oct. 2 G2 Gilgai S., and stepped up to be fifth in the G3 Moonga S. over a furlong further two weeks later. A handily beaten 13th in the G1 Cantala S. going a mile a further two weeks after that, the chestnut relished a step down in class to be a narrowly beaten second in the G3 Sandown S. over 1500 metres Nov. 12 before shipping west. With his longest gap between starts this prep, Stratum Star was given two trials in Perth. “I came and looked at him last week and he looked a bit big underneath,” Weir said. “I said he needed some strong work, so on Monday he had a good trial. Willy Pike rode him [in the trial] and he gave him a good hit out–so thanks to everyone involved.”
Jockey Damian Lane added, “It gives you great confidence when a trainer like Darren Weir puts you on. My good mate Tyson was over here looking after the horse and he gave me a good report and some more confidence. He had a lovely run from gate one and he had the last crack at them. It worked out perfect.”
Stratum Star flew late to nail last-out Group 1 winner Scales of Justice on the line, and that one's rider, Douglas Whyte, copped some criticism in the aftermath for giving an overly confident ride.
Pedigree Notes…
Stratum Star notched the second Group 1 win in the space of a week for his sire in Perth, with Takedown (Aus) having won the Winterbottom S. last weekend. Stratum, who formerly stood at Widden Stud, died last year. He is the first and most accomplished of three foals to race for his placed dam Purely Spectacular, whose second produce is the Group 3-placed Serenade (Aus) (Star Witness {Aus}). Purely Spectacular has a 2-year-old filly by Star Witness and a yearling full-sister to Stratum Star to come.
Stratum Star's second dam Vanilla Sky (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) produced the Group 1-placed Raid (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) while further back, his fourth dam is the great Emancipation (Aus) (Bletchingly {Aus}), a multiple Group 1-winning champion whose descendants include Group 1 winners Virage De Fortune (Aus) (Anabaa) and Railings (Aus) (Zabeel {NZ}). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Saturday, Ascot, Australia
KINGSTON TOWN CLASSIC-G1, A$1,007,000, WATC, 12-3, 3yo/up, Open Weight For Age, 1800mT, 1:49.49, Good.
1–STRATUM STAR, 59.0, h, 5, 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-Damian
Lane; A$619,500. Lifetime Record: 33-6-7-8, A$1,652,460.
*1/2 to Serenade (Star Witness), GSP-Aus, A$197,400. Werk
Nick Rating: A+++ *Triple Plus*. Click for the
eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Scales of Justice, 58.5, g, 4, Not a Single Doubt–Beymatilla,
by Umatilla (NZ). (A$180,000 Ylg 2014 WI Melbourne Premier
Yearling Sale) O-C M Wells, W B Andrews; B-Mr G Hammond
VIC; T-L Smith; J-D Whyte; A$200,000.
3–Perfect Reflection, 56.5, f, 4, More Than Ready (USA)—
Reflected Image, by Bluebird (USA). O-Peters Investments Pty
Ltd Syndicate (Mgr: R J & Mrs S L Peters); B-Peters Investments
Pty Ltd WA; T-G & A Williams; J-W Pike; A$90,000.
Margins: NO, 3 1/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 9.00, 4.00, 3.60.
Also Ran: Kawi (NZ), Neverland, Dubai Escapade, Tradesman, Tick Tick Bloom, Vanbrugh, Disposition, Ihtsahymn, Bass Strait (NZ), Mackintosh (NZ), Heart Starter, He or She.
Click for the Racing Post result.
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