Blue Stratum Takes Aim at Vain Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday August 10

The Blue Point (IRE) colt Blue Stratum made it two on the bounce when denying the hard-charging Last Druid in the Dominant Hcp (1000m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday and likely booked a start in next week’s Vain Stakes.

Blue Stratum gets the job done (image Grant Courtney)

Ridden by Beau Mertens for Tony and Calvin McEvoy, Blue Stratum enjoyed the run of the race behind the leader Azeezle. Switched out three wide to mount a challenge on straightening, Blue Stratum looked set for a comfortable win before Godolphin’s Brazen Beau colt last Druid launched down the centre of the track from last to be beaten a nose.

The honest I Am Immortal filly Immortal Star was a half-length back in third.

Second in the Group III Maribyrnong Plate, fourth in the $500,000 Inglis Nursery, and sixth in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview, Blue Stratum broke his maiden with a two-length romp on the Pakenham Synthetic on July 15.

“I didn’t realise it was so close,” a relieved Tony McEvoy admitted.

“Beau rode him beautifully. I think he enjoyed the place, quickened off the bend and held on.

“We have to get him up over more than 1000m, and he showed up at Pakenham when he rode a little more patiently, but you just can’t give it up here, which might have told at the end.

Advertisement

“I haven’t discussed it with the ownership group or my co-trainer, but if he is well, there is an 1100m next week called the Vain. They all go to 1200m after that, so we might run him in the Vain, then a month to the Poseidon Stakes. He has run well down the straight at Flemington when second in the Maribyrnong, so we will keep him shorter than 12000 for the moment.”

A $130,000 purchase for McEvoy Mitchell Racing / First Light Racing / Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) from the Yulong draft at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Blue Stratum is the fourth winner from as many to race for the talented Stratum mare Tawteen.

Blue Stratum a $130,000 Inglis Premier yearling

The winner of seven highlighted by the Listed William Crocket Stakes, Tawteen, was purchased by the Written Tycoon Syndicate for $475,000 from the Shadwell Dispersal at the 2021 National Broodmare Sale.

A half-sister to Listed winner Well Sprung (Star Witness) and stakes-placed Connemara (Fastnet Rock), Tawteen had a Written Tycoon filly sell to David Ellis for $120,000 at the 2024 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

Tawteen has a weanling filly by Grunt and missed last spring.

After Salsa Fellow opened his winning account at Ballarat on Thursday, Blue Stratum is the second winner in three days for Darley Stud’s Blue Point (IRE). 

Advertisment

Race Result - Dominant Hcp 1000m

Moonee Valley Track: Soft(6) Time: 1:00.61
1
Blue Stratum
- 3c Blue Point (IRE) x Tawteen (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: Beau Mertens 59
Inglis Premier Yearling Sale $130,000
Seller: Yulong, Nagambie
Buyer: McEvoy Mitchell Racing / First Light Racing / Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA)
2
0.1
Last Druid
- 3c Brazen Beau (AUS) x Shannara (AUS) (Octagonal (NZ))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: M Zahra 58
3
0.5
Immortal Star
- 3f I Am Immortal (AUS) x Tuskar Brook (AUS) (Hinchinbrook (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: W Egan 57
Inglis Premier Yearling Sale Showcase Session $30,000
Seller: Noorilim Park, Arcadia
Buyer: Superstar Racing
4
1.5
Zestiman
- 3c Zoustar (AUS) x Estijmaam (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: Ryan Houston 57
5
2
Diamond Firetail
- 3f Epaulette (AUS) x Painted Firetail (AUS) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Jamie Kah 56
6
2.1
The Showvinist
- 3c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Showcase (AUS) (Big Brown (USA))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: D W Stackhouse 59
7
2.4
Azeezle
- 3c Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Elzeeza (AUS) (Hussonet (USA))
Tnr: A & S Freedman Rdr: Ben Allen 57
8
4.2
Miss Cotoletta
- 3f Flying Artie (AUS) x The Veal Thing (AUS) (Snitzel (AUS))
Tnr: Jason Warren Rdr: Zac Spain 55
More Reading...
Consecutive Black Type Victories For Snitzel Filly Bridal Waltz
Stepping up to open company is always a tough task, but 3yo Snitzel filly Bridal Waltz graduated from a last start Listed win over her own age to win the $200,000 Group 3 MRC Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Hello Youmzain Filly Wins NZ Last Stakes Race of Season
Talented juvenile filly Platinum Diamond made all posts a winner when she captured her second consecutive stakes victory in the last black type feature of the 2024-2025 racing season, the Listed Phils Electrical & Gypsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.
Season Finale Flourish for So You Think
Coolmore stalwart So You Think is powering to the end of the Australian racing season with a six winner flurry on Saturday highlighted by a winning treble at Randwick led by his progressive mare Oh Diamond Lil.
Winning Hat-Trick for Gold Standard 2YO
When an unheralded sire produces a Group I winner in their first crop as happened for Sebring stallion Gold Standard it can take a long time for the benefit of that early splash to take effect, but in his case the wait is nearly over and in the meantime Destiny’s Summit is a good reminder as to his merit.
First SW For So You Think Stallion Tamasa As Cicala Takes Out Lightning
One of just three named foals by the So You Think stallion Tamasa, the Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea trained 3yo filly Cicala remained unbeaten, going three from three by winning the $120,000 Listed SAJC Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville.
Unbeaten Run Continues For Ole Kirk’s Daughter Ole Dancer
Successful in the Magic Millions SA 2YO Classic at Murray Bridge on debut back in March, the Peter Moody and Katherine Colemen trained filly Ole Dancer resumed at Sandown on Saturday, winning the Senet Gambling Law Experts Handicap (1200m) to remain unbeaten.
One to Watch Wins Again in Saturday Class
The half-brother to Group II winner Stretan Angel, lightly raced three year-old Brutal gelding Glorious Moments was in a class of his own at Randwick on Saturday.
St Mark’s Basilica Filly Impressive at Ascot
Due back at Coolmore Australia this spring, St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) had an impressive new winner overnight at Ascot in the UK where Princess Petrol stormed to victory.
Exciting Farnan Colt Wins for Mulberry Racing
A standout in the mounting yard on type at Randwick on Saturday, Farnan colt Nashville Jack has also been an eye-catcher at the recent trials in Sydney and he delivered on potential when resuming from a spell with a stylish win.
Sires With Winners - Saturday July 26
Here is the full list of 86 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.