Here’s my reasoning as to why we should be backing Nature Strip to win The Everest.
HEAR ME OUT
What price will Nature Strip be if he lines up in The Everest this year?
Before you answer the question – remind yourself that Hall of Fame trainer Chris Waller has said the champion sprinter will only be a starter in the race if he’s 100 per cent healthy and showing Waller and his team he wants to be there and is ready to go.
What would you say if I told you the TAB are betting you $15 and if he doesn’t take his place in the race on Saturday, October 15, in The Everest you get your money back.
No one will argue the winner of over $20m in earnings hasn’t got the same zip and dash as he once had but gee the way he has been cast aside so quickly seems madness.
His last run was in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes 1200 in April this year on a heavy track and he was beaten just on three lengths by I Wish I Win after using all his petrol way too early meaning he was paddling the final 100m against the best sprinters in the world.
Giga Kick and I Wish I Win head the betting markets and rightly so and they’d be my top selections like most as it stands.
But when I look down the list of horses that could possibly line up against the two sprinting stars only Nature Strip stands out when I asked myself what can beat them.
To answer my question I think Nature Strip starts around $6-$7 if he lines up in the 2023 edition of the $20 million The Everest so $15 and money back if he doesn’t start that will do me.
Lock it in Eddie.
THE ELDER STATESMAN SHOW THEIR CLASS
Have we spent too much time concentrating on the emerging new stars of the Australianm riding ranks?
Kerrin McEvoy is 42 and Damien Oliver 50 and didn’t the two veterans make us sit up and take notice on Saturday.
McEvoy rode five winners at Rosehill, all of them gems, and Oliver produced the ride of the season to win the Group 1 Queensland Oaks on Amokura at Eagle Farm.
We know these two guys have proved themselves champions in the past, but have we been too quick to push them into the background as we get carried away with youngsters who are never going to wear that tag?
I plead guilty on occasions and I’m glad these two greats reminded us all of their talent in the best way they know how.
Both can ride stayers and both can ride sprinters.
As well, trainers will tell you, unlike some, both will listen and follow instructions.
Well done Kerrin, well done Ollie.
FROM OBSCURITY TO GROUP 1 WINNER IN A MONTH
That Amokura was able to go from a Newcastle Provincial Maiden win to a Sunshine Coast Class 1 win to an Oaks win in six weeks, makes you wonder whether she is exceptional or whether the Queensland Oaks is a bit so, so standard.
The Queensland Oaks has never quite been as highly regarded as the Melbourne or Sydney Oaks, but the field contained Affaire A Suivre, the Australasian Oaks winner from Adelaide, Renaissance Woman, the Ethereal Stakes winner from the spring, So Dazzling, the runner-up in the Australian Oaks at Randwick and Sakura Girl and Cheval D’Or, both Group 3 winners in New Zealand.
So it certainly wasn’t a pushover race.
I’m tipping there is more to come from Amokura and remember she is in the hands of the more than capable Kris Lees.
BALDING COMES OUT SWINGING FOR NSW
Chairman Russell Balding left nobody in two minds in a forthright Racing NSW Industry Notice published last Friday.
In his second paragraph he stated, “First and foremost the Board and Management at Racing NSW are committed to always act in the best interests of racing in New South Wales.
“I can assure you that is certainly the case.
“Indeed, this is a legislative requirement of the Racing NSW Board Members.”
These best interests in Mr Balding’s mind obviously do not include New South Wales being ridden roughshod over or dictated to by Victoria.
Racing people in other states might be keen to criticise Balding and his CEO Peter V’landys, but here in NSW they would easily win most popularity contests.
Long live The Everest, the Golden Eagle and all of the other great innovations.
SHINZO & MILITARIZE NOW LOOKING OVER THEIR SHOULDERS
A month ago the debate was whether the Slipper winner Shinzo or the dual Group 1 winner Militarize was the best two-year-old in the Chris Waller team.
Now stable insiders are starting to whisper the name Congregation and are starting to push him into the conversation.
Congregation, which won the first at Rosehill on Saturday, has won two from two, but not by big margins and he has not been tested against the class of opposition Shinzo and Militarize have beaten.
However there has been a lot to like about the way Congregation has knuckled down to his task in both his wins and there is huge improvement to come.
His first moment of truth will come when Waller throws him into the deep end in the JJ Atkins Stakes at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
By the way Tutta La Vita, by the Autumn Sun, which was narrowly beaten by Congregation on Saturday is also headed for carnival races.
Waller has already announced her as in the top group of his fillies by stating the Flight Stakes is on her agenda.
KING POUNCES DUE TO FOG
Rachel King’s planning for her riding engagements at Eagle Farm on Saturday was superior to the planning of fellow jock Tim Clark.
King went to Brisbane on Friday afternoon to be fit and fully rested although her first ride was not listed until the second race.
Clark, on the other hand, relied on plane schedules being on time to allow him to ride the favourite Azula in the opening event.
Our planes, as most travellers know and Clark too knows now, are not as reliable as our buses and trains.
Fog delayed the plane and Clark was late and missed the ride on Azula.
King replaced him with a pleasing result for her and Clark was left to concentrate on his remaining six rides.
I don’t know how strong the class was in the opening race, but the courage shown by Azula in turning back the challenge of Flying Trapeze was exceptional.
Of course by going Saturday, Tim got to spend another night with his lovely family but I doubt Clark will allow the situation to repeat itself.
He did manage to cover expenses with a brilliant all the way winning ride on Prince Of Boom, who cemented a place in the Stradbroke Handicap field with his success in the Moreton Cup.
COMETH THE HOUR, COMETH THE MAN
I mentioned in this column last week Reece Jones only had three winners to go to outride his apprentices’ allowance.
Crash, bang, wallop a winner at Warwick Farm on Wednesday and a double at Rosehill on Saturday did the trick.
Now is the most important time in Jones’ career.
From Wednesday at Canterbury he will ride on equal terms with James McDonald, Kerrin McEvoy, Nash Rawiller and company.
No start will be given and none should be expected.
If Jones is still riding regularly in the metropolitan area in another six months he will have achieved more than a lot of those who have gone before him.
Congratulations on a great apprenticeship young man.
Now for the main event.
AGE OLD RECIPE DELIVERS THE RIGHT TASTE
A short career as a jumper seems to have worked wonders with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Teofilo Star.
The five-year-old was plugging along honestly in city staying races through March and April and then he started a jumping career at Pakenham, won a Maiden Hurdle by eight lengths at Warrnambool on May 2 and then a restricted hurdle at Sandown by 15 lengths at Sandown Lakeside on May 21.
Then it was time then for Teofilo Star to go back to the flat and at Flemington on Saturday he absolutely blitzed a team of city stayers to win by six lengths over 2500 metres.
I’m told jumping them is an old recipe to get horses concentrating and to get them back in form and I can tell you it is a good recipe.
PREUSKER SMILES AS KIWI LICKS ITS WOUNDS
I tuned into the first at Flemington to see how the New Zealand Listed two-year-old winner Codigo would go against the Aussies.
Codigo, with a two from two record at home, was backed to start at $2.90 favourite, but alas he found the locals too good and finished third behind the Paul Preusker-trained Steparty.
Generally Kiwi two-year-old form is not quite up to Aussie form.
It is as three-year-olds the colts and fillies from across the Tasman start to shine.
Also it should be noted Steparty went pretty good.
This son of Artie Schiller is now two from two and there is more to come.
I’m sure a lot of people took notice of Dean Yendall’s post race comments on Steparty.
In part he said, “about two months ago I said to Paul this could be the best one you’ve had.”
JOCKEYS FACE OFF FOR A MATE
Beau Agland isn’t a household name and following a trackwork fall the jockey is facing a tough road ahead as he faces life as a paraplegic.
This Friday night in Dubbo the loveable larrikin Jake Pracey-Holmes will enter the boxing ring against fellow rider Aaron Sweeney hoping to raise some money for his good mate.
Check out the GoFundMe link below to help support Beau.
UUUUUUMMMMMMMMM
* In a hilarious turn of events a trainer told a jockey there will be no rides for 12 months for what he thought was a poor ride. A colleague quickly bet the trainer $500 he wouldn’t last 12 months not legging him up. The trainer almost crumbled when he needed a horse trialled but he held firm. The trainer wanted to book the jock in question recently but couldn’t bring himself to lose the bet. The jockey found out and fronted up with the $500 to his mate and now they are once again a loving trainer/jockey partnership. Lucky as the trainer in question is on fire.
* Ciaron Maher is setting up bases in NSW to attack the incredible prizemoney on offer and the big mail is another major Victorian stable is set to follow suit with a NSW base on the cusp of Sydney. Family reunions will be easier to arrange albeit I’m not sure if they’d all turn up.
BLACKBOOKER – A WIN IS COMING
INSURRECTION – He was beaten as favourite at Warwick Farm on Wednesday, but I thought he showed his fighting ability when going down narrowly to Omni Man. Insurrection is a speed horse that likes to dominate but didn’t get the chance having to chase a leader. Look out when he finds a race he can dominate.
CRIMMO – You don’t see him until late in the replay but Crimmo’s effort at Geelong was full of merit to finish three-quarters of a length from the winner. Stick with the lightly raced three-year-old son of Pierro.
BIG TIME CHARLIE – He is still a maiden after 13 starts but I get the feeling he is building to his first of many wins. His run last week when attacking the line at Dubbo was super. signaling his hoof is right on the till.
AMIMATHEA – She was first-up at Bathurst on Monday and turned in a terrific effort to run second beaten a length. She will benefit from the run and be cherry ripe to go next time out.