No Cox Plate for Tosen Stardom

Japanese import Tosen Stardom will miss a clash with Winx in the Group 1 $3m Cox Plate (2040m) after being scratched from last Saturday’s Group 1 $500,000 Colgate Optic White Stakes (George Main Stakes) (1600m) at Randwick because of a minor leg injury.

Tosen Stardom is unlikley to clash with Winx, above, in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. Photo by Steve Hart.

Tosen Stardom is unlikley to clash with Winx, above, in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. Photo by Steve Hart.

The Darren Weir trained Tosen Stardom was due to take on super mare Winx in the George Main Stakes but after cutting his leg in transit from his Victorian stable to Sydney, had to be withdrawn.

Tosen Stardom was marked at $11 at Ladbrokes.com.au for the George Main Stakes with Winx $1.16 at that time, but with his scratching of the Weir trained galloper, Chris Waller’s glamour mare went on to trounce her rivals as the $1.09 favourite.

Weir said that it would take about ten days for Tosen Stardom to recover from the cut that required a few stitches and he will set his attention towards running him in the Group 1 $500,000 Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on October 8.

Following the Toorak Handicap Weir has then selected the Group 1 $1m Longines Mile (1600m) at Flemington on October 29, the first day of the four day Melbourne Cup Carnival, as another possible Spring Carnival appearance for Tosen Stardom.

“That’s probably going to take 10 days to heal up before we can get back at him properly,” Weir said in an interview on Spring Insiders.

“The race like a Toorak fits in well now – three weeks from Saturday. That’s probably where we’ll head with him.

“The Toorak and the Longines Mile are the races that’ll probably suit him now.

“Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup are probably ruled out now.”

Weir has won the last two Toorak Handicap with Trust In A Gust claiming the prize in 2014 and Lucky Hussler taking out last year’s running.

Tosen Stardom has had one run for Weir since being purchased by Australian Bloodstock and finished fourth, beaten two and three quarter lengths, to Awesome Rock in the Group 2 $250,000 Dato’ Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 3.

While Tosen Stardom is an unlikely Cox Plate runner at Moonee Valley on October 22, he is still listed in the market order at Ladbrokes.com.au as a $26 chance with Winx at the top of the betting at $1.90 to defend her Cox Plate crown after demolishing her rivals in last year’s weight for age championship with a four and three quarter lengths victory.

Early Cox Plate market order at Ladbrokes.com.au: $1.90 Winx, $9 Hartnell, $13 Vadamos, $15 The United States, $19 Divine Prophet, Lucia Valentina, $21 Palentino, Omei Sword, $26 Tosen Stardom, Black Heart Bart, Evacuation, Highland Reel, Hauraki.

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.