With Sebring and Northern Meteor becoming instant successes at stud, Golden Slipper winner Stratum found himself demoted to the third rung at Widden Stud.
But the son of Redoute's Choice has been a lot more than just a reliable source of winners.
From his first crop came Golden Slipper winner Crystal Lily. From his second came the outstanding mare Streama whose 10 stakes wins included four at the highest level.
Stratum's third crop included the Group 1 Levin Classic winner Southern Lord. While his fourth crop lacked a Group 1 winner it did contain the likes of I'm All The Talk and Van Pensiero.
Back on a Group 1 roll, Stratum's fifth crop included MRC Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes winner Stratum Star and from his sixth crop came the gentle giant Takedown who captured last Saturday's Winterbottom Stakes.
The Darren Weir-trained Stratum Star will be out to make it two $1 million Group 1 features in as many weeks at Ascot for Stratum when he contests Saturday's Peters Investments Kingston Town Classic (1800m).
Purchased by Rick Hore-Lacy for $165,000 from the
Hore-Lacy must have had a big opinion of him because he contested the Group III Blue Diamond Prelude, Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes and Group II VRC Sires Produce Stakes.
While he failed to break his maiden at two, his new trainer Darren Weir gave him three runs in benchmark races, breaking his maiden at Swan Hill in September 2014.
Two races later, Stratum Star registered his first stakes win in the Listed Vintage Stakes at Flemington.
It was the springboard to an exceptionally consistent stretch of form.
All 24 of his starts since that day have been in stakes races.
He added three more black-type wins the highlight of which came when defeating Disposition and Under The Louvre in the Group 1Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes on September 26, 2015.
He placed in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap at his next start then added the Group III David Jones Cup defeating Awesome Rock.
Despite placing in the Group I Futurity Stakes, Group II Blamey Stakes, Group II QTC Cup and Listed Glasshouse Handicap the tough-as-teak 5yo entire has not won a race since.
He showed a glimpse of his best form at his most recent start when second in the Group III Sandown Stakes.
Stratum Star is the first foal of Pins mare Purely Spectacular, a sister to stakes-winner Raid.
Also the dam of the stakes –placed Star Witness filly Serenade, Purely Spectacular was purchased by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock for $300,000 at the 2015 Magic Millions National Broodmare sale when carrying a full sister to Stratum Star.
Now owned by Jonathan Munz's GSA Bloodstock, Purely Spectacular is a great granddaughter of the champion
In 10 seasons, Stratum's fee varied between $30,000 and $60,000.
Before his untimely death in September, Stratum (picture Mark Smith) was due to cover his 11th season at a reduced fee of $22,000.
