Matty and Benny: Nature Strip is done! I couldn’t back him with stolen money

Matty and Benny are back discussing the huge Group 1 day of racing in Sydney on Saturday, including some big calls about a couple of fancied horses.

Nature Strip is shooting for his fourth consecutive TJ Smith but Ben Dorries says he’s no chance!

Every Thursday, News Corp’s editorial director of racing and wagering Matt Williams and senior racing writer Ben Dorries chat all things horse racing.

News Corp’s Matt Williams and Ben Dorries

MW: Well, Benny, all roads lead to Sydney for Day 1 of The Championships. The Doncaster and the TJ Smith are two of the best Group 1 fields I’ve seen in a long time. Throw in Zac Purton and Joao Moreira riding at the meeting, it’s an epic day of racing. The Championships has really taken Australian racing to a new level.

BD: The Easter bunny is arriving soon but Saturday is really Christmas Day for punters. If you can’t get up and about, perhaps croquet might be more in your sweet spot. It’s the sort of day that you might only need to back one or two winners to come out ahead against the satchel swingers.

MW: The Doncaster is a balltearer. I’ve counted 15 winning chances and there’s probably more I’ve missed! It’s amazing there’s only two horses carrying more than 54kg — Mr Brightside and Alligator Blood. If any punter says they’re confident about finding the winner they’re kidding themselves. It’s pretty much a “throw a dart” kind of race. Three-year-olds — Zougotcha, Communist and Lindermann — are all big chances with their light weights.

BD: I think the “story” of the Doncaster winner could be jockey rather than horse related. I love seeing some of these lightweight jockeys who aren’t household names getting their chance on the big stage. Zac Lloyd, Taylor Marshall, Jay Ford, Ben Thompson, Dean Holland and Dylan Gibbons up against the likes of Joao Moreira and Zac Purton. How good.

MW: The TJ Smith is phenomenal. It’s pretty much The Everest plus three! This could be Nature Strip’s finale and wouldn’t it be special if he bowed out with his fourth consecutive TJ. I just think his best is behind him and there’s a changing of the guard. Giga Kick will be hard to beat but Mazu is the overs. He keeps flying under the radar and he’ll get a great run from barrier 1 not far off the speed. If the track has some give in it, he’s an even better chance.

Giga Kick beats Private Eye and Mazu in last year’s The Everest.

BD: This is the race where Giga Kick blows them away and we realise Nature Strip is a shadow of his former self. There you go, hold onto that and run it as next week’s column headline when I goose myself! Nature Strip has had a grand career but you’ve got to call a spade a spade and I’m very happy to risk him here. I couldn’t back him with stolen money at $4.50.

MW: The Derby only has a handful of winning chances and I’m against Sharp ‘N’ Smart from the gate. I just don’t know where he’s going to end up from the draw. I’m not convinced Pericles is a 2400m horse. At the odds, I’m keen on the Kiwis, Full Of Sincerity and Andalus. They placed behind Sharp ‘N’ Smart in the NZ Derby. Full Of Sincerity was great in the Tulloch and he’ll be primed. I know he’s drawn wide, too, but Damian Lane can settle him back and follow some good horses from the 800m. Purton is on Andalus which pretty much gives him a bonus three lengths.

BD: You’ve spent too much time delving into this. Sharp ‘N’ Smart’s rivals could start now and he would still run them down. He’s an emerging superstar and it wouldn’t matter whether he started from barrier 17, or from an adjacent suburb, he will still be too good.

MW: In the Sires, Cylinder deserves to be favourite but he’s far too short for mine. He ran well in the Slipper but he had every possible chance. I’ll be having something each-way on Maharba at double figures. I reckon he’s a raw talent and Graeme Begg has specifically set him for this race whereas the two favourites have already had their grand finals.

BD: I’ll be having a peanut on Cafe Millenium. He’s a giant this colt and gets to 1400m for the first time which will be right in his wheelhouse. Throwing further forward, I can’t wait for the clash of the carnival between Anamoe and Dubai Honour in the Queen Elizabeth on Saturday week. I’m on Team Anamoe but I’m so scared of Dubai Honour that I’m going to sleep with the lights on in the lead-up.

MW: Wowee. That race will be something. If he can replicate his Ranvet demolition, I think Dubai Honour will prove the better horse over 2000m. Anamoe going from 1500m up to 2000m will be tough but he’s a champion so of course he can win.

Originally published as Matty and Benny: Nature Strip is done! I couldn’t back him with stolen money