Australian Bloodstock's Japanese import Tosen Stardom (JPN) chose the right spot to break his maiden in Australia when finishing strongly to claim Saturday's $500,000 Group I United Petroleum Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield.
Ridden by Damian Lane the 7yo son of super-sire Deep Impact defeated Sovereign Nation (Encosta de Lago) by a length with the same distance back to Petrology (Fastnet Rock) in third. (photos Grant Courtney).
Second to Contributer (IRE) in the 2015 Group I Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill when making his Australian debut for Japanese trainer Yasutoshi Ikee, Tosen Stardom owns placings in the Group I Memsie Stakes, Group I Futurity Stakes and Group II Blamey Stakes so his breakthrough was not out of turn.
"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.
Weir said there was an outside chance Tosen Stardom (JPN) would take his place in the Cox Plate.
"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.
It was a good day at the office for Weir and Australian Bloodstock who scored with Big Duke (IRE) in the $500,000 St Leger at Randwick while another Japanese import Brave Smash (JPN) finished third in the $10 million The Everest.
Weir also won the Group I Caulfield Classic with OTI Racing's Gailo Chop.
A half-brother to the stakes-placed Neo Stardom, Tosen Stardom, is out of the Admire Kirameki, a 4-time winning daughter of former Arrowfield shuttler End Sweep (USA), who half-sister to the Group I Tenno Sho (Autumn) winner and Group I Japan Cup runner-up Tosen Jordon (Jungle Pocket) and the Group II Shimbun Hai winner and Group I Japanese Derby third Tosen Homareboshi (Deep Impact).
Tosen Stardom is the second Group I winner in Australia for champion stallion Deep Impact after Arrowfield Stud's George Ryder Stakes winner Real Impact (JPN).
