Everest slot-holders remain cautious despite Nature Strip’s fast mid-race sectionals
Nature Strip is a rising young star and his win was smart at Flemington on Saturday but concerns were raised about the level of his ratings, and his racing manners after seemingly going more keenly than usual.
But Nature Strip did win, and win comfortably, by a length and a half in taking out his first stakes success, the AR Creswick Stakes Final (Listed, 1200m) – also his first success beyond 1100 metres.
It was his sixth win from nine starts and Nature Strip remains unbeaten from two starts for new trainer Darren Weir, who prepared Nature Strip for a most impressive first-up win in a three-year-old handicap (1100m) at Flemington a fortnight earlier.
Nature Strip won that 1100 metre event in a fast 1:02.26 (11.32 200m rate) – equivalent to 1200 metres in 1:07.92 – a fast overall time supplemented with brilliant sectionals that were subsequently highlighted in a recent On The Watch column.
That performance saw Nature Strip gain a new Timeform peak rating of 118, albeit well below the ratings of key players for the upcoming The Everest (1200m) which is headed by Trapeze Artist (Snitzel) [126].
Then on Saturday, Nature Strip returned a Timeform rating six pounds less, his win gaining a 112 figure adding further to slot-holders’ caution in committing to offering an Everest start.
And while he did not produce the brilliant sectionals that he had produced in his first-up victory, Nature Strip still showed his quality and potential with his exceptional mid-race pace.
Clocked from the 1000 metres, Nature Strip’s 200 metre breakdown was: 10.42, 10.91 (400m in 21.33), 11.00 (600m in 32.33), 11.40 (800m in 43.73) with his final 200 metres in 12.67 to give him a last 1000 metres in 56.40… and those times were against a strong headwind.
A questionable part of Nature Strip’s performance was his 12.67 final 200 metres which indicates that he is probably vulnerable against stronger and more experienced opposition.
However, factors supporting Nature Strip’s talent being the fact that he could lead, racing into the headwind and produce a mid-race time of 43.73 – only really talented horses can do that and very few could then maintain that sort of tempo into the final 200 metres.
Perhaps after only nine starts, Nature Strip does not have the experience to match our best under the weight-for-age conditions of The Everest… it might take another season for Darren Weir to weave his magic but he is still a colt deserving of the opportunity.
Earlier on the Flemington programme, the promising Lindsay Park-trained colt Good ‘N’ Fast (Sebring) impressed in taking out the Taj Rossi Series Final (Listed, 1600m), now winning two of his only three starts.
He was ridden quietly by Luke Nolen, Good ‘N’ Fast then settled nicely in seventh place, behind a moderate tempo, before moving up well on straightening.
The colt then finished too well in the sprint home to defeat a game Scottish Rogue (Rothesay) by a long head in a time of 1:37.89 on the Good 4 track.
Good ‘N’ Fast returned the best closing sectional times of the race with his final 1400 metres in 1:23.34, last 1200 metres in 1:11.86, last 1000 metres in 59.79, last 800 metres in 46.95, last 600 metres in 34.43, last 400 metres in 22.86 with his final 200 metres in 11.55.
He is a progressive colt who could easily prove effective against stronger opposition over the spring carnival.
Another talented young horse racing over the weekend that looks a spring carnival prospect is the Fred Kersley-trained filly Mizlecki (Lope De Vega) who impressed in winning the Belmont Oaks (Listed, 2000m).
She settled particularly well behind a very steady pace, racing midfield on the rails, before angling for a run on straightening.
Mizlecki then finished well along the rails before drawing away to score comfortably by two and a half lengths, running the 2000 metres out strongly.
The overall time on the Soft 5 track was moderate but Mizlecki did show her talent in sprinting home her final 600 metres in a swift 34.83 despite the affected conditions.
It was Mizlecki’s fifth win, with three placings, from 13 starts and the Belmont Oaks was her third stakes success to date.