40th Stakes Winner for Stratum

Mark Smith - Saturday May 19

The Darren Weir and Damian Lane show rolled on at Morphettville on Saturday with favourite Land Of Plenty scoring a hard-fought win in the $250,000 Group III R A Lee Stakes (1600m).

The 4yo son of Stratum gave Lane four of the first five winners and Weir three.

Advertisement

While Land Of Plenty made his run down the outside, Chris Parnham was slicing through the centre on the 3yo gelding Over Exposure (Rothesay) who came up a half-head short with Lite'n In My Veins (Henrythenavigator) one and a quarter lengths back in third.


After going through the stables of several trainers, Land Of Plenty was highly enough thought of last season to contest four Group 1 races in Sydney and Melbourne.

In earning his first stakes win, Land Of Plenty advances his record to 4 wins, 2 seconds and 4 thirds from 20 starts with earnings of $435,230.

Weir said the entire deserved a stakes win.

"Gee that was a good run. They seemed to be going pretty slow to me. He tacked into it well and the second horse was very gallant in defeat," Weir said.

Lane said he had no luck in the run.

"I set him a task in a slow run race. I was back and wide and probably pressed the button a little bit too early. He stargazed a bit when I got there but when you are on quality athletes they get the job done," Lane said.

Bred by Esplin Family, Land Of Plenty was consigned by Twin Palms Stud to the 2015 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Session 2, where he was knocked down for $80,000.

He is the eighth foal of the imported Spectrum mare Dancing (GB) who won the Grade II Ynez Stakes at Santa Anita.

Dancing's half-sister Miss Vista also made the trip to the antipodes where she left her mark as the dam of Group 1 Ranvet Stakes and Group 1 Auckland Cup winner Zavite (Zabeel).

Dancing has a 2yo colt by Von Costa De Hero and a weanling filly by Office Bearer. She was covered by Charge Forward last spring.

Land Of Plenty becomes the 40th stakes-winner for Stratum (pictured) who died at Widden Stud in September 2016.

Widden stands Stratum's dual Group 1 winning son Stratum Star whose 2018 service fee has been set at $11,000.

Advertisment
More Reading...
A Century of National Yearling Sales Success: Melbourne Cup
There are many great events and coveted prizes on the Australian racing calendar, but no others capture attention quite like the Melbourne Cup (3200m).
G1 Breeders Cup Winner for Almanzor
Cambridge Stud’s Almanzor (FR) has been firing in the Northern Hemisphere this year and one of his star performers has been French Oaks winner Gezora, who raised the bar again at Del Mar on Sunday when taking out the Group I Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare (1m3f).
Breeding To Win - 2025 G1 Melbourne Cup
The greatest day in Australian racing, nay in Australian sport is upon us - Cup Eve is better than Christmas Eve!
Sires With Winners - Monday November 3
Here is the full list of 26 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
DIY Pedigrees for Melbourne Cup – Take the Tip!
If you are having trouble settling on your Melbourne Cup horses a look at pedigree might be a help, so take a flick through our five generation pedigrees for all Cup runners and we’re giving you a clue as to what to look for!
Sire Table Shake Up – Carnival Stars Bring Change
The $10million Golden Eagle and the first day of the Flemington Carnival delivered some big changes to our sire tables as we power through the spring.
A Wet Melbourne Cup Has a Certain Kind of Magic
Wet Melbourne Cups have a different character, and are often memorable... and we might just see one on Tuesday! 
Tara Talks Racing - Melbourne Cup Tips
If you are a racing tragic and horse lover like Clocker and I, Melbourne Cup Eve is as good as it gets, so have a listen to our thoughts and you can put the pen through our very dodgy tips or add them to your multiples!
2YOs on Show - Flemington Sale Mail
Cup Day at Flemingto will kick off with the Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) which has attracted a big field of juveniles including some unraced blueblood homebred babies for Godolphin and Yulong as well as the highest priced yearling by first crop sire Pinatubo (IRE).
White Robe Lodge to Cheer Smokin' Romans
Group One winner Smokin’ Romans will aim to extend his breeder Brian Anderton’s successful run in the Gr.1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) when he takes his place in the iconic Flemington feature on Tuesday afternoon.