Stratum Stallion Wins G1 Toorak

Champion trainer Darren Weir has already won the Group I MRC Toorak Handicap with a Stratum stallion in Stratum Star and he did it again at Caulfield on Saturday with progressive five year-old Land of Plenty.

Land of Plenty went through the hands of three previous trainers before joining the Weir team and has really hit his straps this year finishing top three in his past eight starts culminating in today’s career best performance.

Drawn the outside in the field of 18, Land of Plenty was ridden a great race by Damian Lane, produced late when it counted to charge past Epsom Handicap winner Hartnell to win the 1600 metre feature by a length and a quarter.

“We targeted the Rupert Clark (G1 in which he finished third) and the Toorak as he’s a stallion, a great type with a nice pedigree and now a Group I win,” said Weir.

“I don’t think it will be his last Group I win either.”

A modest $80,000 Inglis Easter Session II purchase from the Twin Palms Stud draft for Shane Nichols Racing / Northern Lodge Thoroughbreds, Land of Plenty has the overall record of six wins and eight placings from 24 starts with prizemoney just shy of $900,000.

Bred by the Esplin family, Land of Plenty is a half-brother to South African stakes-winner Macduff and is the best of eight winners from Group II winner Dancing (GB), a half-sister to the dam of dual Group I winner Zavite.

Land of Plenty is the seventh Group I winner for Widden Stud’s ill-fated Golden Slipper winner Stratum, who died in 2016. His place on the Widden roster has been filled by his dual Group I winning son Stratum Star, whose first foals are on the ground this spring.