The combination of a wide barrier and a heavy track could see trainer Darren Weir recommending to scratch Tosen Stardom form the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick on day one of ‘The Championships’ on Saturday.
Palentino, above, will be Darren Weir’ only Doncster Mile runner if Tosen Stardom is scratched. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
The Randwick track was rated a Soft 5 on Thursday morning but Sydney is currently receiving a decent downpour and the prospect of another Autumn Carnival heavy track on Saturday is a real possibility.
“I’m gonna suggest strongly to the owners that he scratch,’’ Weir told the Herald Sun.
“I’ve got no idea if he’ll handle a wet track but the combination of that, plus the wide gate, makes me think we’d be better off staying at home and maybe thinking about Brisbane in winter.’’
Tosen Stardom, with Craig Williams booked to ride, drew the outside barrier of twenty-three in the original draw and would have the entire field inside of him when it is reduced to the safety limit of twenty on Saturday.
Tosen Stardom has had three starts for the Weir stable since arriving from Japan last year and has performed well without finding the winner’s stall.
At his first start for Weir the Japanese import finished fourth to Awesome Rock in the Group 2 $250,000 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley during the 2016 Melbourne Spring Carnival on September 3 but then a Cox Plate campaign had to be aborted because of a leg injury.
Tosen Stardom resumed in the 2017 Melbourne Autumn Carnival for a second to stablemate Black Heart Bart in the Group 1 $500,000 italktravel Futurity Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 25 followed by another second to the Weir trained Palentino in the Group 2 $200,000 Incognitus Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on March 18.
If Tosen Stardom does come out of the Doncaster Mile, Weir will be left with Palentino who is listed as one of the main chances at $9.50 with Ladbrokes.com.au.
Palentino has drawn barrier three with Mark Zahra to ride and Weir is not worried about the rain affected with his breeding suggesting he will handle it.
“He’s a great chance; great barrier, he’s really flying and he’s out of a Palace Music mare and they really go well in the wet,’’ Weir said.
The Doncaster Mile in terrific form with two wins and a second from three Autumn Carnival starts.
Le Romain resumed for a first up win in the Group 3 $150,000 The Chi-X Southern Cross Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on February 13 followed by a win in the Group 1 $500,000 BMW Canterbury Stakes (1300m) at Randwick on March 4.
Le Romain then ran into Chris Waller’s super star Winx and led the rest of the field home behind her when second in the Group 1 $1m China Horse Club George Ryder (1500m) at Rosehill on March 18.
Hugh Bowman takes over from Glyn Schofield on Le Romain who drew barrier eight in the original draw.
