Star Witness Gives Weir Last Stakes Race of the Year

Champion trainer Darren Weir won the last stakes race in Victoria for 2017 with talented Star Witness gelding Stellar Collision.

The five year-old had been mixing his form since winning the $80,000 Apache Cat Handicap at Cranbourne in March, but found his best form at his second run back from a spell in the Listed MRC Christmas Stakes.

He settled fourth for Dean Yendall and hit the line hard to win the 1200 metre sprint by a half neck.

''I know he has the ability but he's been struggling to put it together, although there have been some excuses at his past few,'' Weir said.

"But on his best form, he gets along pretty good.''

Weir indicated Stellar Collision might be given the chance to prove himself a lightweight hope in the $1 million Goodwood in Adelaide in May.

Not offered at auction, Stellar Collision has now won seven of 20 starts and over $326,000 in prizemoney and is the 12^th stakes-winner for his sire Star Witness.

He is the first winner for well-bred More Than Ready (USA) mare What an Impact, who comes from the family of Group II winner Elegant Fashion and her Group III winning daughter Star Fashion.

Further back the family traces to celebrated matriarch Highclere, whose many Group I winning descendants include the likes of Nashwan, Nayef, champion Japanese sire Deep Impact and imported Australian Group I winner My Kingdom of Fife.

What an Impact was one of 220 mares covered in 2016 by Star Witness and produced a filly this spring.

Widden Stud's Star Witness has big representation at upcoming sales with 22 at Magic Millions, 29 at Inglis Classic and 7 for Inglis Premier.