Stratum Star doubles down in Magic Millions at the Gold Coast
DARREN Weir has made it two seven-figure wins in two races for his runner Stratum Star after the horse backed up its Kingston Town Classic win by winning the $1 million Moet and Chandon Magic Millions Trophy as the $3.40 favourite at Sportsbet.com.au.
Stratum Star – who was first up after winning the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic at Ascot in the beginning of December – carried top weight into the race but still jumped as the favourite and the shorter quote was justified as the horse outclassed its rivals despite a step up in distance.
Jockey Damian Lane settled the Group one winning five-year-old in an ideal position as the field turned into the straight and the horse responded by extending down the outside.
Stratum Star battled on as the line approached to hold out a fast-finishing Feltre, who returned a massive $6.10 at WilliamHill.com.au while Payroll justified late money on the tote to finish third and provide a $6 dividend at Sportsbet.com.au.
Trainer Darren Weir said he was worried about the weight of Stratum Star and the distance it would have to travel given the horse had to carry 5.5kg more than its nearest rival and traverse an additional 400m on its last start.
The champion trainer said Damian Lane provided the perfect ride to alleviate any obstacle the additional kilograms and distance would present.
“He got the right ride to overcome both of those things,” Weir said.
“I said to Damian ‘at some stage if you can get off the fence it’d be good’ and on (the corner) the horse moved out a bit without Damian probably doing it then he got into the right lane.
“He switched off nicely down the back and when he got to the outside at the top of the straight I knew he’d tough it out.”
“Since Perth he’s done a lot of work… he had three trials in a week not long ago to get him right up to the mark, he’s such a tough horse.
“Two trials in one day then six days later another trial. It really had him in the right shape to be able to run the trip.”
Stewards dismissed a protest which was lodged by the connections of second-place finisher Feltre.