Making his first start since winning the Perth Cup in December, Star Exhibit kept on his winning ways for new trainer Darren Weir in Saturday's $120,000 Listed Thoroughbred Club 50th Year in 2018 Stakes (1440m) at Caulfield.
It was the third consecutive stakes win for the Bob and Sandra Peters homebred who downed the favourite Charmed Harmony (Hussonet) by three-quarters of a length with Top Me Up (Exceed And Excel) further long-neck back in third.
"He's got a good first-up record and he's got a lot of talent," winning rider Brad Rawiller said.
"I couldn't have been more confident in the run, he just flowed so easily for me and we ended up in a good position - three wide with cover and then his class prevailed."
The son of Statue Of Liberty (USA) advances his record to 9 wins, 3 seconds and 2 thirds from 18 starts with earnings of $749,775.
A trip north to the Brisbane Winter Carnival in now on the cards, with the Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) a possible target.
"This horse came to our stable in great order and he's the real deal, he's a very nice horse, Weir's Warrnambool foreman Jarrod McLean told racing.com.
"He's going to Queensland but we're just not sure whether he'll follow a similar path to Real Love last year and target Group Two races heading towards the Brisbane Cup (2400m) or whether he might measure up over 2000m in the Group 1 Doomben Cup.
"I'm sure D.K. Weir will find the right race and whatever he chooses for him, I'm sure he'll run well."
The 5yo son of Statue Of Liberty (USA) is the first foal of the Listed stakes winner Star Encounter (Jeune) who placed in the WA Oaks, WA Derby and Strickland Stakes on the way to compiling a record of eight wins and seven placings from 30 starts with earnings of $563,090.
The second foal of Star Encounter, the 3yo Redoute's Choice filly Royal Star made it two out of two stakes winners when successful in the Listed Natasha Stakes in March before finishing second in the WA Oaks at her most recent start.
Star Encounter has an unraced 2yo Redoute's Choice filly named Perfect Jewel and foaled a brother to Star Exhibit on September 7 before being bred back to Sun Stud's royally-bred son of Storm Cat.
Statue of Liberty is relocating this spring from Sun Stud Victoria to their Queensland farm and his fee will be $7,700.
