Lane touts upset if Stardom can rise up

MELBOURNE’S leading jockey Damian Lane is confident Tosen Stardom can reproduce his Toorak Handicap form and cause a minor upset in today’s $2 million Emirates Stakes.

The Darren Weir-trained Tosen Stardom finished eighth as $4.80 favourite in last Saturday’s Kennedy Mile, but Lane said there were extenuating circumstances and the horse could hit back today.

“He gave 5-6kg away to most of those runners and he sort of got a long way back off a moderate tempo when they weren’t making a lot of ground down the middle of the track,” Lane said.

“There were a couple of excuses for him. His Toorak run was outstanding and hopefully if he can get back to that sort of form, then he is going to be a good chance.”

Lane said his Queen Elizabeth Stakes mount, Kiwia, had a tough task in turning the tables on Qewy after the English raider outstayed him to win the Bendigo Cup in a slugging fight to the finish.

“Qewy was tough, and I think if the race went another lap, we would never have got past him,” Lane said. “He really kept pulling out something every time I got close to him.

“You never know on the day. (Kiwia) is an up and coming horse. He is improving all the time and he is drawn well, so he should have his chance.”

James Cummings is using the Emirates Stakes as a lead-in to a trip to Perth for versatile galloper It’s Somewhat, with the Kingston Town Classic (1800m) at Ascot next month on the agenda.

“We can see him being really competitive here and then he will shape up really nicely for Perth in December,” Cummings said.

“His Highness Sheik Mohammed has a horse in this race who looks like being one of the ones to beat, Folkswood ... (but) It’s Somewhat is there to run well. He is in great shape, we think he has improved a fraction from Moonee Valley (when third in the Crystal Mile), and he is going to put himself right there.”