Champion Nature Strip begins campaign towards fourth straight TJ Smith Stakes title
Grand champion Nature Strip begins his journey towards a fourth straight TJ Smith Stakes title at the Warwick Farm barrier trials on Monday.
Horse Racing
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Champion sprinter Nature Strip is showing no signs age is catching up with him as he begins a preparation aimed at an unprecedented fourth successive Group 1 $3 million TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Royal Randwick in April.
Nature Strip is the headline act in an all-star barrier trial at Warwick Farm on Monday morning that includes Private Eye, Zaaki, Durston, Fireburn, September Run, Manzoice, Riodini and Hope In Your Heart.
The Chris Waller-trained Nature Strip earned the title of world’s best sprinter last year with his famous win in the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot but he wasn’t his dominant best during spring, finishing fourth in The Everest and second in the Champions Sprint.
“I think he was just a bit tired at the end of the ‘prep’ last time in so he’s had a good break and he has freshened up well,” Waller said.
“He didn’t show us that but he raced tired in his last run. I still think it was a huge run, it was one of his best runs from a courage point of view, he was gone at the 200 and still ran second.
“But we’re happy with him. He trials Monday and then he’ll have a jump out down the straight. It seems to work for him. He has already had a jump out at home where he was very good.”
Waller said rising nine-year-old Nature Strip is showing encouraging signs that he retains his zest, enthusiasm and speed.
“He is a bit more relaxed, we have seen that each ‘prep’ for the past couple of years,’’ he said.
“So I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t win the trial. He will be conserving a bit of energy.’’
Nature Strip, the highest rated horse in the world still in training, will resume in the Group 1 $1 million Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on February 18.
Private Eye, runner-up in The Everest last spring, is also heading to the Flemington straight course for his return but it won’t be until the Group 1 $1.5 million Newmarket Handicap (1200m) on March 11.
Trainer Joe Pride said Private Eye’s trial hitout against Nature Strip will be the first of three before the gelding resumes in the Newmarket.
Pride also confirmed brilliant Expressway Stakes winner Mariamia will be given an easy few days and then be aimed at the Group 1 $1 million The Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on March 18.
But the racing career of triple Group 1 winner Forbidden Love is over after she ran sixth behind Mariamia last Saturday.
Forbidden Love suffered a career-ending leg injury but is expected to make a full recovery and will be retired to stud.
YOU CAN BET ON IT
TAB accepted a big bet of $20,000 on Steel City five minutes before the start of the Widden Stakes. She firmed from $5.50 into $3.70 favouritism and was narrowly beaten by Learning To Fly ($4.40).
Learning To Fly had her supporters and was the second best-backed runner in the race despite easing from $3.60. Some notable bets against the winner included $2,500 at $4.60 and $4.20, plus multiple $2,000 bets at $3.80, $3.90 and $4.
Learning To Fly triumphs on debut in the Group 3 @widdenstud Stakes!@SchofieldChad and @ANeashamRacing combine for a double. pic.twitter.com/pI7sfm0yYR
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 28, 2023
King’s Gambit was the best-backed runner on the Rosehill program, holding 62 per cent of the money in the Canonbury Stakes. TAB’s headline bets were $9,250 at $1.28, $8,000 at $1.30, $6,000 at $1.28 and multiple $5,000 bets between odds of $1.22 through to opening price of $1.40 before his second placing behind Red Resistance.
Golden Mile held more than 50 per cent of money for the Expressway Stakes and started $2.20 favourite but had his chance when second to Mariamia. She was solid in betting at $4.60 with a bet of $1,400 at those odds and several $1,000 place bets at $1.45.
FIVE TO FOLLOW
Golden Mile (race 8) had the right run and was beaten on his merits by the much-improved Mariamia. But Golden Mile has some much bigger targets in coming weeks and his solid second stands him in good stead as he heads towards the Randwick Guineas.
Think About It (race 10) might have been a little flat second-up but like good horses do, he found a way to win. With four wins from five starts, Think About It has obvious potential and a fierce will-to-win.
King’s Gambit (race 2) settled behind eventual winner Red Resistance in a slowly run race. He loomed as a likely challenger halfway down the straight but peaked on his run. King’s Gambit is only going to improve with racing and is likely to race next in the Silver Slipper.
Spacewalk (race 7) covered extra ground and did a few things wrong during the race but still dashed clear for a comfortable win. Promising three-year-old who dominated his older rivals. He can win a good race this autumn.
Eastern Glow (race 1) scored his fourth win from six starts with his fast-finishing win. It’s not often the Highway winner runs the fastest final 600m and 200m of the meeting which Eastern Glow did on Saturday. He’s a promising horse and a likely Country Championships contender.
CRUNCH TIME
Mariamia (race 8) stopped the clock at a fast 1m 8.73s winning the Expressway Stakes. Despite the fast race tempo, the mare was able to break 11s between the 400m and 200m as she seized control of the race.
Eastern Glow (race 1) produced a brilliant final 600m of 33.03s to burst through the pack and score a last stride win. He ran his final 200m split in 10.94s and both sectionals were the best of the day.
Super Pursuit (race 10) was held up for a run at the top of the straight but hit the line hard for a close third, running 33.05s for his final 600m.
Mumbai Muse (race 5) got back in the field early and did a few things wrong in the straight but when balanced she ripped home to run third, recording 33.13s for her final 600m, one of the fastest sectionals of the meeting.
Red Resistance (race 2) won the Canonbury Stakes, leading throughout and sprinting home his final 600m in 33.38s. His immediate chasers King’s Gambit (33.32s) and Shinzo (33.33s) ran on well and also recorded notable closing splits.
TURF TALK
“I was going to be happy with a top-three finish. I was hoping for a bit more rain around, get a bit of the sting out, and I didn’t expect her to give them a bit of a touch-up. She’s gone to a level that she never has before,’’ said Joe Pride, trainer of Mariamia.
“I wanted to let him go through his gears from the 650m, he’s a fit horse and I wanted to use that advantage today,’’ said Brett Prebble, rider of Red Resistance.
“We didn’t make him the $1.20 favourite and although we were disappointed he didn’t win we were not disappointed in the horse. “If he was beaten four or five lengths I would be concerned but he was beaten a length and a quarter by a colt that had a run. They walked early, they went very slow, but the last 600m would have been very fast,’’ said Peter Snowden, trainer of King’s Gambit.
“Excited and relieved at the same time. She was brilliant. We’ve always had a really good opinion of her, but until you see them come and do it in the afternoons, you never know quite how good they are. We think she is quite special and to do it in the Coolmore colours is very exciting,’’ said Annabel Neasham, trainer of Learning To Fly.
“We think she is a pretty smart filly, too. She was just a bit tardy away so it cost her the spot where the winner but she is having a crack,’’ said Ciaron Maher, trainer of Steel City.
STEWARDS SAY
Eastern Glow (race 1) had his head turn to the side as the start was effected and was slow to begin. From a wide barrier then was shifted behind runners in the early stages. He was held up for clear running from the 300m until after passing the 200m. After being taken out by King Of Spades approaching the 50m, then continued to shift out under riding over the concluding stages.
King’s Gambit (race 2) began very awkwardly and lost ground. When placed under full pressure from the 200m was inclined to lay out, resulting in its rider pulling the whip through to his left hand.
Apprentice Amy McLucas pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to ride Bryon out the end of the race. Stewards found McLucas’ action compromised Bryon’s chances of finishing in third place and suspended her from February 5-12.
Spacewalk (race 7) after being crossed by Dehorned Unicorn approaching the 900m commenced to race fiercely and improved to be racing inside the heels of that runner. Spacewalk continued to race keenly through the middle stages.
Forbidden Love (race 8) travelled well in the box seat early and although briefly held up in the early part of the straight, failed to respond to riding. A post-race veterinary examination revealed Forbidden Love to be lame (4/5) in the near-foreleg. She has been retired to stud.
Golden Mile (race 8) lowered his head as the start was effected, then blundered on jumping and lost ground.
RANDWICK SNAPSHOT WITH RON DUFFICY
RUN OF THE DAY
Learning To Fly is a lovely who was superb winning at her debut. After going out hard getting outside the lead she showed grit, determination and class getting the job done in fine style running fast time.
FORGET THEY RAN
In a slowly run race Super Pursuit was dragged back in the field with his big weight and was superb with too much to do. He probably is in the middle of nowhere now as the races get tougher and it could well be the one that got away.
ONES TO FOLLOW
While it was easy to get excited about both two-year-old winners I still have eyes to the future of the horses that ran third in both races, Shinzo and Mumbai Muse. They are talented types with improvement to come.
RIDE OF THE DAY
Nothing was ever going to beat that ride by Tyler Schiller on Eastern Glow from race 1. It was just a superb piece of navigation.
Eastern Glow pips King Of Spades at the post! @G1TySchil kicks of the day with a win. pic.twitter.com/atrP7bU4tx
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 28, 2023
NSW RACING – THE WEEK AHEAD
Monday: Newcastle Beaumont, Dubbo
Tuesday: Kembla Grange, Grafton
Wednesday: Canterbury Park
Thursday: Gosford, Albury
Friday: Randwick Kensington, Walcha
Saturday: Royal Randwick, Newcastle, Gilgandra, Braidwood, Walcha
Sunday: Goulburn, Port Macquarie
Originally published as Champion Nature Strip begins campaign towards fourth straight TJ Smith Stakes title
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