Good grounding the key to Toorak Handicap win

Brad Waters - Saturday October 14

Darren Weir says being able to get enough racing into Tosen Stardom was the key to the former Japanese galloper's maiden Australian win in Saturday's Group I Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield.

Advertisement
Damian Lane celebrates after Tosen Stardom's Toorak Handicap win. Photo: Darryl Sherer

Weir took over Tosen Stardom's training last spring but circumstances have prevented the trainer from getting more than two runs out of the stallion in his previous preparations.

Tosen Stardom tackled the Toorak Handicap at his third run this time in after solid efforts in the Lawrence and Memsie Stakes at Caulfield and delivered a Group I success for connections when he scored by a length over Sovereign Nation.

Weir said the Toorak Stakes win cemented Tosen Stardom's stud future but connections had endured a frustrating run since acquiring the seven-year-old.

"It has been frustrating because we haven't had the best of luck of with him but luckily this preparation we were able to get a few runs into him," Weir said.

"That was the key to today, having a bit of racing in his legs so he was fit enough to win the race."

Jockey Damian Lane was unable to get in closer than three-wide from barrier 16 but he said he said the way Tosen Stardom travelled left him confident of a win a long way from home.

"Darren said to me today, 'there's no point going too far back because he's cherry-ripe for today' so I bit the bullet and tried to put him in a spot," Lane said.

"He didn't actually have that much speed early but gee, I was travelling coming into the straight and he really let go with a good turn of speed."

Weir was non-committal about Tosen Stardom's next start but said the Cox Plate was an option for the son of champion Deep Impact.

"The Cantala (Stakes at Flemington) could be an option or the Cox Plate but the main thing now is he's a Group I winner and he'll have a good life after racing," Weir said.

The $101 shot Petrology ran on late for third, two lengths from the winner.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Friday October 3
Here is the full list of 61 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Lonhro Blueblood Colt Wins Listed Dulcify
At the start of August we ran a story about the 3YO’s that were entered for this year Cox Plate and aside from the usual suspects there were some ‘Cox Plate’ dreamers and one of them was unraced Lonhro colt Attica, who scored his first stakes win at Randwick on Saturday when taking out the Listed ATC Dulcify Stakes (1600m).
G1 Metrop Win for Australian Bloodstock
Second in the Italian Derby at three, progressive stayer Royal Supremacy (IRE) had racked up multiple Group placings in Europe before his sale to Australian Bloodstock and broke through for his first ever stakes win when taking out the $750,000 Group I ATC The Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick on Saturday.
Apocalyptic Crowned Darley Princess with G1 Flight Victory
Extreme Choice filly Apocalyptic has been the dominant force in the Darley Princess Series this year and she claimed the jewel in the crown at Randwick on Saturday with a commanding win in the $750,000 Group I ATC Flight Stakes (1600m).
Derby Options Alive For Impending Colt
Tony and Calvin McEvoy look to have a smart 3yo on their hands as Impending colt Options wins the Listed VRC Super Impose Stakes (1800m) at Flemington and could now be aimed towards the $2m Group 1 VRC Derby (2500m) on November 1.
Lindsay Park Love Their Per Incanto's
Ben, Will and JD Hayes know a thing or two about the juvenile progeny of Per Incanto (USA), and they unveiled another exciting son of the Little Avondale Stud stallion in Melbourne’s first two-year-old race of the season on Saturday.
Inglis and Yulong Confirm Magic Time for Everest Slot
Inglis will partner with worldwide racing and breeding powerhouse Yulong for the running of the 2025 The Everest, with the combination to be represented by Magic Time in the $20m contest.
So You Think Filly Wins G2 Edward Manifold
Danny O’Brien believes he has the Group I VRC Oaks in his sights with So You Think filly Getta Good Feeling breaking her maiden in the best way possible with a last stride win in the Group II VRC Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Miraval Rose Impresses With G2 Rose Of Kingston Stakes Win
Already a Listed winner at 3 and 4, Grahame Begg’s Grunt mare Miraval Rose added her third black type victory to her record, winning the $300,000 Group 2 VRC Rose Of Kingston Stakes (1400m) in style at Flemington on Saturday.
Too Darn Hot’s Shiki Wins G3 Gimcrack Stakes
Winning her heat in good time at the official 2yo trials saw the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Too Darn Hot filly Shiki jump away the race favourite in Saturday’s $250,000 Group 3 Keeneland Gimcrack Stakes (1000m), a race she duly won with a fighting performance.