2016 Kingston Town Classic result: Stratum Star wins in tight finish

December 5, 2016

2016 Kingston Town Classic result: Stratum Star wins in tight finish

The Darren Weir trained Stratum Star scored his second Group 1 win with a hard fought victory in the $1m Peters Investments-Kingston Town Classic (1800m) at Ascot in Perth last Saturday.

Stratum Star, above winning the David Jones Cup at Caulfield, won the Kingston Town Classic at Ascot in a controversial finish. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Stratum Star, above winning the David Jones Cup at Caulfield, won the Kingston Town Classic at Ascot in a controversial finish. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Stratum Star has been a regular Group 1 performer since his three year old season and as a early four year scored his first Group 1 win in the $400,000 Anthea Crawford Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield during the 2015 Melbourne Spring Carnival.

But the win of Stratum Star ($10) was overshadowed by the controversy surrounding Hong Kong based jockey Douglas Whyte who was charged by stewards for not riding his mount, second placegetter Scales Of Justice ($5), out to the line before being beaten in a very tight photo finish.

The $4.60 favourite Perfect Reflection with Perth’s leading jockey William Pike in the saddle was just over three lengths away in third spot.

Damian Lane rode Stratum Star hard to the line to gain the judge’s decision while it appeared that Whyte has relaxed a couple of strides from the post on Scales Of Justice but he pleaded not guilty at an inquiry in the stewards’ room after the race.

“I pleaded not guilty to the charge, I believe I did everything in the final stages to win the race and my mount lost no momentum in the finish,” Whyte told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Scales Of Justice’s trainer Lindsey Smith supported the former Hong Kong champion jockey and told stewards by phone that the result was the right one.

“It wouldn’t have mattered if he hit it two or three times,” Smith said.

The inquiry was adjourned to a date to be fixed to allow Scales Of Justice’s trainer Lindsey Smith and managing owner Chris Wells to be present.

Stratum Star had a quiet 2016 Melbourne Spring Carnival and Weir set him for the Kingston Town Classic after running second in the Group 3 $150,000 Yarramalong Racing Club Stakes (1500m) at Sandown on November 12.

Weir admitted that Stratum Star arrived in Perth a bit on the big side but tightened up nicely after some solid work and two barrier trials.

“When we got him here, he was a little bit tubby. So we gave him about half a dozen quick gallops and then we gave him a trial,” Weir said.

“But then his first trial showed he was a bit big so we trialled him again.”

Weir has several options with Stratum Star who could be set for either the Sydney Autumn Carnival or the Brisbane Winter Carnival with the Group 1 $1.5m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm a likely target.

“There are all sorts of options awaiting him. Sydney, Brisbane and I even heard someone talking of retirement, and when you think about it he’s a dual group 1 winner with a beautiful pedigree,” Weir said.

After winning the Kingston Town Classic, his second Group 1 win, Stratum Star has now earned $1,652,460 in prizemoney from a total of six wins from thirty-three starts.

Kingston Town Classic Results

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Starting Price
1 3 STRATUM STAR Darren Weir Damian Lane 1 59kg $10
2 10 SCALES OF JUSTICE Lindsey Smith Douglas Whyte 0.05L 15 58.5kg $5
3 16 PERFECT REFLECTION Grant & Alana Williams William Pike 3.25L 2 56.5kg $4.60
4 4 KAWI (NZ) Allan Sharrock Michael Walker 4.5L 4 59kg $6
5 14 NEVERLAND Grant & Alana Williams Jarrad Noske 6L 3 57kg $71
6 7 DUBAI ESCAPADE Justin Warwick Ben Kennedy 6.5L 5 59kg $201
7 9 TRADESMAN Robert & Todd Harvey Dwayne Dunn 7.25L 8 59kg $11
8 15 TICK TICK BLOOM G Durrant & J Miller Patrick Carbery 7.25L 14 57kg $101
9 11 VANBRUGH Chris Waller Ben Melham 7.75L 6 58.5kg $11
10 5 DISPOSITION Grant & Alana Williams Glenn Smith 8.25L 7 59kg $15
11 2 IHTSAHYMN Fred Kersley Steven Parnham 8.5L 12 59kg $41
12 8 BASS STRAIT (NZ) Neville Parnham Brad Parnham 9L 10 59kg $61
13 12 MACKINTOSH (NZ) Chris Waller Damien Oliver 9.75L 9 58.5kg $6.50
14 13 HEART STARTER Grant & Alana Williams Peter Hall 9.75L 11 58.5kg $41
15 6 HE OR SHE David & B Hayes & T Dabernig Chris Parnham 11L 13 59kg $31

Racing fields and data are copyright 2011-2021 © Racing Australia Pty Ltd (RA) (and other parties working with it).
Racing materials, including fields, form and results, is subject to copyright which is owned by RA and other parties working with it. Full copyright notice.

Spring Racing

Military Mission Fires in 2023...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field �...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field & Odds Update: Vow And Declare Defends Title

Danny O’Brien’s 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare continues to show a...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbott...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Field & Betting Markets

Bjron Baker’s The Everest performer Overpass is tipped to return to winning...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 R...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 Race Field & Betting

The Chris Waller-trained Pierro four-year-old Osipenko is firm favourite in...

2023 Railway Stakes Field ...

2023 Railway Stakes Field & Betting Update: Tuvalu Narrow Favourite

The Lindsey Smith-trained top-weight Tuvalu is narrow favourite in the latest...

Horse Racing Today

2024 Coolmore Classic Winner Z...

2024 All-Star Mile Results: Pr...

2024 All-Star Mile Results: Pride Of Jenni Beats Mr Brightside by 2 Lengths

Pride Of Jenni was enormous running her rivals ragged with a blistering...

2024 Pago Pago Stakes Results:...

2024 Pago Pago Stakes Results: McEvoy’s Dublin Down on Golden Slipper Bid

Dublin Down is into Saturday week’s 2024 Golden Slipper field after a gutsy...

Randwick Guineas 2024 Results:...

Randwick Guineas 2024 Results: Celestial Legend Nudges out Militarize on the Line

Celestial Legend put the writing on the wall for a huge year ahead with the...

2024 Canterbury Stakes Results...

2024 Canterbury Stakes Results: Lady Laguna Upsets Think About It, Espiona Third

Top honours in the 2024 Canterbury Stakes results at Royal Randwick went to...

Race Results

2024 Coolmore Classic Winner Zougotcha Dives Late to Salute

2024 All-Star Mile Results: Pride Of Jenni Beats Mr Brightside by 2 Lengths

2024 Pago Pago Stakes Results: McEvoy’s Dublin Down on Golden Slipper Bid

Randwick Guineas 2024 Results: Celestial Legend Nudges out Militarize on the Line

2024 Canterbury Stakes Results: Lady Laguna Upsets Think About It, Espiona Third

Race Previews

2024 Golden Slipper Stakes Field & Barriers: Storm Boy Draws Two

Magic Night Winner Drifting Firms in Golden Slipper 2024 Betting

Zougotcha Heads 2024 Coolmore Classic Field & Odds

2024 All-Star Mile Field & Betting Update: Mr Brightside Odds-On

2024 Adelaide Cup Field & Betting Update: The Map Leads the Way

Fields & Form

2024 Golden Slipper Stakes Field & Barriers: Storm Boy Draws Two

Zougotcha Heads 2024 Coolmore Classic Field & Odds

2024 All-Star Mile Field & Betting Update: Mr Brightside Odds-On

2024 Adelaide Cup Field & Betting Update: The Map Leads the Way

2024 Randwick Guineas Field & Odds Update: Militarize Set to Strike Second-Up