With the crowd still buzzing after the record-breaking fourth Cox Plate victory of Winx, Sun Stud's Melbourne Cup hero Fiorente (IRE) chose a good time to record his first stakes-winner when Robbie Laing's Victoria Derby bound colt Stars Of Carrum broke his maiden in the $200,000 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m).
Beaten in a Bairnsdale maiden two starts back, Stars Of Carrum was a hard-charging second in the Listed Hill Smith Stakes (1800m) at his most recent start.
Settled back midfield by Ben Melham, Stars Of Carrum did his best work in the closing stages to edge out Savoie (Ilovethiscity) by a nose with the favourite Aramayo (Poets Voice) three lengths back in third. (photo Grant Courtney)
Robbie Laing seemed the least surprised man on the course by the $51 winner.
"No surprise, he should have nearly won the Hill Smith Stakes," Laing said.
"With clear running in the Stutt Stakes he probably runs second to Leonardo da Hinchi.
"He has worked the place down this week. 
"I went to the Melbourne Sales last year and only bought one horse, when you're not firing everyone drops off so I only had enough cash to spec one. Peter Cox is the only real racing enthusiast in the horse. We all played footie together at Carrum and we had a back to Carrun night and he got up on a chair and said lets back Laingy up and buy a share in this horse, he reckons he can win a Derby with it. We are a week away and he will be one of the favourites."
Star Of Carrum (pictured as a yearling ) was a $75,000 purchase out of the Sun Stud draft at the 2017 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
From the first crop of dual Group 1 winner Fiorente (IRE) he is the second foal of the 7-time winning Anabaa mare Signoret whose dam Jameela (Jeune) won the Group II SAJC Marsh Classic and was runner-up in the Group 1 South Australian Oaks.
Signoret's filly by Fighting Sun made $115,000 to the bid of Ellerton Zahra Racing at the 2018 Premier Yearling Sale.
Signoret has missed for the past two seasons.
Group 1 Melbourne Cup and Group 1 Australian Cup winner Fiorente (IRE) is currently covering his fifth book of mares at Sun Stud for a fee of $17,600.
