Japanese import Tosen Stardom has been retired to stud and won’t line up in the Group 1 $4m Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) on day two of The Championships at Randwick on Saturday.
Tosen Stardom, above, has been retired to stud and won’t contest the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Tosen Stardom had drifted out to $51 at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes but after finishing a well beaten fifteenth behind Happy Clapper in the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) at Randwick last Saturday, senior part owners Australian Bloodstock have announced that the Deep Impact stallion will stand at Woodside Park Stud.
“He retires a sound horse and just looks to have lost the desire to race, we’re sure he’ll now enjoy the next stage of his career,” Australian Bloodstock’s Jamie Lovett told racing.com.
“After an up-and-down start to his Australian career it was so great to see him live up to what we knew he could do.”
Darren Weir was given the job of preparing Tosen Stardom for his Australian career after arriving from Japan and the master Victorian trainer was able to saddle up the talented import for two Group 1 victories.
Tosen Stardom was seen at his best during the 2017 Melbourne Spring Carnival with wins in the Group 1 $500,000 United Petroleum Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield and in the Group 1 $2m Emirates Stakes (2000m) at Flemington.
Weir will still be heavily represented in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes with Humidor, Gailo Chop and Cliff’s Edge still in contention.
Humidor is the most prominent of the Weir contenders in the betting for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes with Ladbrokes.com.au at $11 just ahead of Gailo Chop at $13 while Cliff’s Edge is marked as a roughie at $61.
Humidor was a winner two starts back in the Group 2 $200,000 Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on March 17 but then never threatened when eighth to Happy Clapper in the Group 1 $3m The Star Doncaster Mile (1600m) last Saturday.
Gailo Chop arrived in Sydney for the Autumn Carnival after running second to Harlem in the Group 1 $1.5m Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington on March 10 and went on to win the Group 1 $700,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill on March 24.
The French import then backed up the following week in the Group 1 $1.5m Kia Tancred Stakes at Rosehill but failed to run out the 2400m and finished fourth to 2016 Melbourne Cup winner Almandin.
Cliff’s Edge has been racing against three year old company and after winning the Group 2 $200,000 Hacer Group Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) at The Valley on March 16 finished fifth to D’Argento in the Group 1 $600,000 Sky Racing Rosehill Guineas (2000m) at Rosehill on March 24.
The Chris Waller trained super mare Winx heads the market order for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at $1.16 with las Saturday’s Doncaster Mile winner Happy Clapper the second pick at $9.
The final field for the 2018 Queen Elizabeth Stakes will be released on Tuesday April 10.
Early betting for the 2018 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ladbrokes.com.au: $1.16 Winx, $9 Happy Clapper, $11 Humidor, $13 Gailo Chop, $26 Aloisia, Ambitious, D’Argento, $31 Comin’ Through, $34 Success Days, $51 Admire Winner, Mission Hill, Satono Rasen, Single Gaze, Tom Melbourne, Tosen Stardom, $61 or better the rest.
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