WITH a fourth and seventh in the past two Everests, it was third time lucky for Nature Strip, as the Nicconi gelding struck a dynamic win in Saturday’s A$15 million sprint over 1,200 metres at Randwick.
A crowd of around 10,000 were in attendance, the maximum allowed under present Covid restrictions, and as the chorus of Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline filled the loudspeakers post-race, the crowd were in fine voice.
The win catapulted Nature Strip’s earnings to just shy of $15 million with 18 wins from 33 starts. Ridden by James McDonald for Chris Waller, Nature Strip did what everyone suspected, rolling to the lead from his wide gate. Two-wide around the bend, Nature Strip pressed on, getting a small break with 300 metres remaining.
Squeezing out the remaining juice, McDonald got Nature Strip to the line holding off the fast-finishing Masked Crusader, whose own undoing was a tardy start that gifted the field a two-length advantage. Third was the reliable Eduardo who closed the margin right to the line, falling a half length short of the winner.
Waller’s delight
Chris Waller, in the afterglow of the world’s richest turf race, said: “Everybody in Australia is talking about it. It’s just a great race. It’s captured the imagination of so many people, inside racing and out and what better way to get out of Covid. I could feel it (the mood) was a little bit different but when he crossed the line it certainly hit home that it’s a big race that’s taking over Australia.”
“James gets this horse to settle and it hasn’t been just this week, it’s been over three years and that horse just connects with him,” added Waller. “Horses run for James. If he was in a formula one car he’d be at the front of the grid.”
Nature Strip will now have a short let-up before heading south for the last day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival for the Group 1 Darley Sprint.
THE Hallowed Crown mare Colette, back to her own class, tore apart the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes for fillies and mares over 1,400 metres at Caulfield, coming from last on the bend to win in style from the Frankel filly Steinem and the Dissident filly Aidensfield.
“She dropped the bridle a long way out and I thought pre-race that the last thing I wanted to be doing was getting caught flatfooted because she was originally trained for a staying prep and that’s exactly what happened,” said jockey Damien Lane.
“To her credit, between the 400 (metre mark) and the 250, it was really where she made good ground and killed the race.” With a foot repaired with equicast having had an abscess cut out, Colette looks primed for a race like the Empire Rose on Derby Day.
THE Symon Wilde-trained mare Tralee Rose won the Geelong Cup and finds herself safely in the Melbourne Cup field.
The Tavistock mare was in receipt of a perfect ride from Dean Holland and will head into the Cup with 51kg, pending a penalty.
Dream
“You look at them (as yearlings) and think ‘can this be the one?’,” said Wilde.
“She had her first start here at Geelong and to be coming back a bit over 12 months and win the Geelong Cup and be a live hope in the Melbourne Cup, if we can get her there in one piece, it’s what you dream of.”
Markets reacted, placing Tralee Rose on the third line of betting.
Gold Trip scratched from Cox Plate
FRENCH import Gold Trip was taken out of today’s Cox Plate yesterday, due to lameness in his off-hind leg. Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Gold Trip was fourth favourite behind Zaaki, Anamoe and Verry Elleegant.
Sir Dragonet euthanised
THE news of Gold Trip’s scratching was a further blow to the Maher-Eustace stable following the death of the stable’s other intended Cox Plate runner Sir Dragonet last Saturday. Winner of the Cox Plate a year ago, the Irish import had to be euthanised after breaking down in a track gallop at the Valley.
State Of Rest fit to go
JOSEPH O’Brien’s travelling foreman Mark Power was playing a straight bat when interviewed mid-week on State Of Rest’s chances in the Cox Plate. “He just did a routine canter this morning but he’s fresh and well and we’re looking forward to Saturday,” said Power. “We have a fit horse.” The Starspangledbanner colt will be ridden by Johnny Allen who saluted on Downdraft for Joseph in the 2019 Hotham Stakes.
Lloyd pair out of Cup
THE Lloyd Williams-owned pair King Of Leogrance and Dawn Patrol have been withdrawn from the Melbourne Cup, with trainer Robert Hickmott informing the stewards of the decision on Wednesday despite both being guaranteed a start.