Tosen Stardom will take his place in the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes after getting the all-clear in a work-out at Warrnambool.
The Japanese horse was forced to gallop before Victorian stewards in order to take his place in Saturday’s Group Two race at Moonee Valley.
Racing NSW stewards put an embargo on Tosen Stardom after he suffered a bleeding attack in quarantine preparing for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in Sydney.
That ban had not been lifted until Thursday when the now Darren Weir-trained Tosen Stardom proved his fitness in a searching gallop.
Weir won’t be at Moonee Valley to see him run after accepting an invitation from Zhang Yuesheng, who owns the “Yulong” prefaced horses, for a private race meeting in China on Saturday.
The trainer flew out after watching Tosen Stardom go through his paces and will return in time for important trials on Tuesday.
“He looks magnificent,” Weir said.
“He’s a great sort of horse. Big and strong and he’s a good galloper if you look at his form.
“We’ve galloped him with a few of our better horses and I don’t think there’s any problem with his ability.”
Weir wrestled with tackling the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington on Saturday week before deciding to kick off his campaign on Saturday.
“My gut feeling is to start off at the Valley but the track might suit him a bit better at Flemington,” Weir said.
“I’d be disappointed if he didn’t run well. Finishing in the first three would be a pass mark.”
Tosen Stardom is one of four representatives for Weir and a firming favourite, shortening from $6.50 into $5.
Mahuta ($8) backs up after finishing third in the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield last week rather than going to the Makybe Diva Stakes a week later.
“I thought the better option was to go into this and then run in the Sir Rupert Clarke,” he said.
Signoff ($35) has improved since his first-up run in Adelaide on August 20, but Weir doesn’t expect him to be at his best until he gets out to 2400m.
Real Love ($61) hasn’t raced since her fourth in the Brisbane Cup in June.
Weir says she will find the 1600m too short but is in fantastic condition after having a month-long break in the Queensland sun.
