Stratum Star wins Peter Young Stakes

Premier Victorian trainer Darren Weir has praised the toughness and ability of Stratum Star after the five-year-old notched his third-straight feature race win this campaign, all in different states.

Stratum Star held off a late charge from stablemate Humidor in Saturday’s Group Two Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield, having won the Group One Kingston Town Stakes in Perth in December and then the Magic Millions Trophy at the Gold Coast in January at his past two starts.

“Amazing, isn’t it?” Weir said.

“You’ve got to be a tough horse to be able to do that and he’s just got the best attitude. He stays sound and he loves to work and has got a good racing style.”

Weir said the plan was for Stratum Star to progress to the Group One Australian Cup (2000m) in two weeks, which is also the aim for Humidor.

After settling just off leader Mourinho early in Saturday’s race, Stratum Star ($6) then got cover when Caulfield Cup winner Jameka worked forward after being three-wide.

Jameka hit the front at the 200m as The United States made his run on the rail, while Stratum Star ranged up on the outside.

Humidor made a late lunge but Stratum Star got home by a long head, with another long neck to The United States in third, while Jameka was a close fourth.

Weir said the racing career of Stratum Star, a dual Group One winner, was probably drawing towards a close given he was a stallion prospect.

“He’s a beautiful-looking horse and obviously he’s not going to be around for much longer,” Weir said.

“There would be a fair bit of interest now from a few studs to stand him.”

The one-two finish for Weir-trained runners came one race after Weir also trained the first two home in the weight-for-age Group One Futurity Stakes, with Black Heart Bart beating Tosen Stardom.