THE Darren Weir-trained Nature Strip sizzled around Moonee Valley’s turning 1,000 metre course to set a new track record of 56.95 seconds in taking out the Group 2 McEwen Stakes last Saturday.
Breaking from the inside gate, none could find a way past as the Nicconi gelding won by a nose, having begun to fade in the final 50 metres, second was Houtzen just ahead of Everest-bound Shoals.
“The speed that they went, he was going to be found wanting late,” said Weir.
“Normally we wouldn’t let horses out of the barrier like that but if he didn’t use his barrier and go hard like he did it becomes messy.
“There will be people querying the 1,200 metres but with this under his belt and another good, solid run in the Moir, I think we’ll be right. He’s the fastest horse I’ve trained.”
The win tipped the scales for the Australian Turf Club (ATC) who on Tuesday nominated Nature Strip as their entrant for the A$13 million Everest which will be run on October 13th.
“(The) ATC had great success with the Darren Weir stable in last year’s The Everest (Brave Smash ran third) and we again look forward to joining with him to promote our racing and the world’s richest race on turf,” said ATC Director Phil Morley.
“Nature Strip will add an X-factor to the field.”
With the contenders now confirmed as Trapeze Artist (slot holder: Aquis), In Her Time (TAB), Redzel (Yulong Investments), Brave Smash (Chris Waller Racing), Shoals (The Star), English (Damion Flower), Santa Ana Lane (Inglis), Aidan O’Brien’s U S Navy Flag (Coolmore), Vega Magic (James Harron), Invincible Star (GPI Racing) and Nature Strip (ATC).
There is only one remaining slot, that of Max Whitby that remains to be confirmed.
Brave is home with impressive win
THE Irish-bred Home Of The Brave has made a claim for the last remaining Everest slot with an impressive win in the Group 2 Theo Marks over 1,300 metres at Rosehill.
Kept safe in the betting, the Starspangledbanner seven-year-old delighted trainer James Cummings with a two-length win carrying 57.5kgs.
It was the Godolphin horse’s second start in Australia, having been switched from the yard of Hugo Palmer where he’d struck twice at Group 3 level over seven furlongs in Britain.
“He caught the attention of the right people and I think if we’re really serious about it (The Everest - six furlongs) we could definitely get very interested about it,” said Cummings, who confirmed that slot holders had been in contact with Godolphin’s Australian manager Vin Cox.
“He’s a gelding and he’s got an exposed record. He seems to have enjoyed settling in to Australia and it’s possible he’s right up there with the fastest of all our fast horses.”
Two lengths away in second was the So You Think horse D’Argento with fellow Everest fancy, Trapeze Artist, by Snitzel, a three-length third, albeit carrying 61kgs.
Appleby trio arrive
FOLKSWOOD, Blair House and Jungle Cat landed safely in Melbourne last Saturday.
The Charlie Appleby-trained trio the earliest ever arrivals of international Spring Carnival arrivals.
“All three horses arrived in good order and are now are settling in at Werribee,” said travelling foreman Connett. “They will have a couple of easy days here before stepping up their preparations for their initial targets at Caulfield later this month.”
Two further shipments of International contenders are due to touch down on September 29th and 13th October.