Stratum Star a Class Above

Five year-old Stratum stallion Stratum Star was a last start winner of the Group I WATC Kingston Town Classic in Perth on December 3 and was a class above in the $1million MM Trophy over 2200 metres at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

The victory added to his trainer Darren Weir’s success in the Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (Mahuta) and the Magic Millions Cup (Lucky Hussler) in 2016.

While Weir held pre-race reservations about how Stratum Star would cope with carrying 61 kilograms and the step up to 2200m, these were quickly alleviated courtesy of a sublime ride from jockey Damian Lane.

“We got the ride to overcome both of those things (weight and distance) and I said to Damian (Lane) that if he could get off the fence at some stage it would be good,” Weir said.

“From the first corner the horse actually moved out a bit without Damien doing too much and he got into the right lane and switched off nicely down the back.

“When he got to the outside at the top of the straight I knew he’d tough it out because the boys down at Warrnambool do a great job and the horse is in great shape.”

A $165,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Widden Stud draft for Rick Hore-Lacy, who prepared him for his first four starts, Stratum Star has the overall record of seven wins and 15 placings from 34 starts with prizemoney topping $2.2 million.

Weir heaped praise on his Warrnambool-based team for the role they played in ensuring Stratum Star held the necessary fitness to see out a strong 2200m, the longest race of his 34-start career.

“Since Perth, he’s done a lot of work to keep him up to the mark,” he said.

“He had two trials in one day and then another six days later which really held him in the right shape to be able to run the trip.

“It’s nice when you’ve got the horses to bring up here and I’ve been lucky enough to have the right horses be up here in the right shape and get the right rides to win because it doesn’t happen that often.”

The five year-old entire runs for a big group of owners, who include Widden Stud and is a two time Group I winner having taken out the Group I MRC Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes in 2015.

Bred and offered for sale by Widden Stud, Stratum Star is the first foal of Pins mare Purely Spectacular, a full sister to stakes-winner Raid from the family of champion mare Emancipation.

Widden Stud have been enjoying great results at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale selling 22 yearlings through the first three sessions for $4,760,000.