For a horrifyingly long time it looked as if Tosen Stardom (JPN) was going to have about as much luck as his stablemate Raw Impulse had earlier in the day, but much to the relief of jockey Damian Lane, trainer Darren Weir and owners Australian Bloodstock, the Japanese came with a barnstorming finish to claim the $2 million Group 1 Emirates Classic (2000m) at Flemington.
There was drama before the start when Michael Dee pulled up Gingernuts who was noticeably lame and was scratched.
For the majority of the straight, the 3yo Cliff's Edge looked like he was about to hang on but was a transformation came over the race in the last 100 metres.
Winner of the Group 1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield two starts back, Tosen Stardom (JPN) finished so fast he had one and a half-lengths to spare over the always honest Happy Clapper (Teofilo) with It's Somewhat (USA) (Dynaformer) a short-neck back in third. (photo Grant Courtney).
The 7yo son of Deep Impact advances his record to 7 wins, 3 seconds and 1 third from 25 starts with earnings of $3,347,526.
"He would have been a good thing beaten if I didn't get out," Lane said.
"I had one run
"He was always going to be better suited back to weight-for-age and the team have done a magnificent job with him during the week to get him to back-up from his Cantala run.
"I was just a pilot today and was lucky to be on-board."
Trainer Darren Weir said the son of Deep Impact was overdue for a change of luck.
"It was amazing, that's the real Tosen Stardom," Weir said.
"The blinkers switched him on. It's great for a horse with a great pedigree to win on the big stage.
"Nothing has gone right for him before this
"Everything that could go wrong did go wrong. There
"His Japanese owners have stayed in him so it's great for them to get some success in Australian racing, hope they send us some more."
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).
