Darren Weir galloper Stellar Collision will line up in Sunday’s Sale Quality over 1205m after a listed win on boxing day followed by a recent Group 2 placing in the Australia Stakes.
The 5-year-old by Star Witness started his career in impressive fashion, knocking off Ability on debut before consecutive wins at Sandown and Moonee Valley where he overcame Grey Street and Superstar Viddora in the latter to salute over 1000m.
Stellar Collision did not taste defeat until start number 4 when he came across dual Group 2 winner Super Cash, however managing 3rd in a race that also included Sooboog, Bassett and Grey Street. Winning again at the Valley in March 2016, it was almost 12 months before Group 2 placed Stellar Collision would not see the back of any horses crossing the finishing post again.
Weir’s potential superstar had a bizarre turn around in form and was unplaced for the remainder of 2016, failing in 7 starts including a 14th of 14 at Moonee Valley in November. Unsuccessful in listed and group class throughout 2016, Stellar Collision had 4 consecutive starts in benchmark 78 grade towards the end of the year, again with the absence of even running a place.
Staring down the barrel of bush racing, Stellar Collision broke the 7-start slump in January last year, recording consecutive victories at Moonee Valley and Cranbourne. He would again endure another slight funk in form mid-2017 however his form of late suggests he is ready to bounce back in a big way, culminating with a Sunday race at Sale.
The Christmas Stakes winner defeated the likes of Oak Door, Lucky Liberty, Thermal Current, Keen Array and Demonstrate on Boxing Day, prior to finishing just one and a half lengths off Thronum in last Friday’s Australia Stakes. Stellar Collision is a massive chance to take care of the field at Sale after finishing almost 2 lengths in front of The Everest hopeful Brave Smash last start.
With a best of 68.68 over the 1200m trip, the in form galloper certainly has the time advantage over the rest of the field, edging out Demonstrate who has twice been beaten by Stellar Collision. He will be aided by an ideal draw of barrier 7 with John Allen to ride.
