Nature Strip has sound claims for The Everest? – ratings say ‘no’ while sectional times say ‘yes’
Having his first start for leading trainer Darren Weir, Nature Strip showed tremendous pace and talent to lead throughout for an impressive four and a half length win, albeit in a three-year-old handicap (1100m).
Subsequently rated 118+ by Timeform, Nature Strip has a long way to reach the rating level of the inaugural The Everest winner Redzel (Snitzel) [125] and multiple Group 1 winner Trapeze Artist (Snitzel) [126] who currently heads the CrownBet betting for the race at Randwick on October 13.
And while Nature Strip has already build a very good record having not finished further back than fourth, with five wins and two seconds from eight starts – none of his wins being in stakes class.
The latter factor is clearly against him, in addition Nature Strip in his short career is in the unusual position of already having had four different trainers – Robert Smerdon, Robert Hickmott, John Sadler and now Darren Weir.
While Nature Strip showed his brilliance for all three of his previous trainers, the three-year-old gelding that stepped out at Flemington on Saturday produced an effort ‘on the watch’ that indicates he has already gone to another level.
But that is tempered by the fact that it was a winter-class three-year-old race and although he was visually impressive, Nature Strip did not defeat a quality field – factors that justify a higher class and weight rating.
However, times indicate Nature Strip produced an exceptional effort irrespective of the class of the race or the standard of the opposition.
Brilliantly away under Damian Lane, Nature Strip raced close to the lead in the nine-horse field, all travelling closer to the grandstand side of the Soft 5 track, before taking a clear advantage upon reaching the 800 metres point.
From there, the race was a procession, with Nature Strip powering away over the closing stages to score by four and a half lengths from I Am Someone (Onemorenomore) with Double Jeopardy (Exceed And Excel) two and a quarter lengths away in third.
Time for the 1100 metres was 1:02.26 – quite brilliant on a good track let alone under Soft 5 conditions – at a 200 metre rate of 11.32, equivalent to 1200 metres in a fast 1:07.92.
That was only 0.11 outside of the 1100 metre Flemington track record of 1:02.15 by Loveyamadly (Bel Esprit) that has stood since March 2013.
Nature Strip’s sectional times were also outstanding.
His 200 metre breakdown (from the 1000m point) being: 10.50, 10.79 (400m in 21.29), 10.65 (600m in 31.94), 10.50 (800m in 42.44) and 11.38 to give Nature Strip a final 1000 metres in 53.79.
Judging by those exceptional sectional times, a repeat would see Nature Strip competitive at the highest level.
In the opening race at Flemington, the Gippsland Region Handicap (1400m) the two juveniles staged efforts to suggest they have the potential to progress to even better things.
Success went to the Lindsay Park-trained colt Good ‘N’ Fast (Sebring) who fought back well in holding off the late-closing Goldifox (Foxwedge) by a neck.
Time on the Soft 5 track was 1:24.09 in a race that saw a moderate early tempo (first 800m 49.38) which made the task of Good ‘N’ Fast and Goldifox more difficult in needing to make ground in sprint-home circumstances that resulted in the leaders running a quick last 600 metres of 34.71.
Good ‘N’ Fast therefore produced smart closing 200 metre times (from the 800m) of 11.34, 10.91 (400m in 22.25), 11.17 (600m in 33.42) and 12.03 to give him a final 800 metres in 45.45.
It was Good ‘N’ Fast’s first win after his promising second on debut in the Eugene Gorman Handicap (1100m) at Flemington on June 9, seemingly appreciating the longer 1400 metre journey on Saturday.
The runner-up, the Leon and Troy Corstens-trained filly Goldifox, who has now raced four times for two seconds, also produced very good closing times indicating that she is a filly to watch.
Clocked from the 800 metres, Goldifox’s 200 metre breakdown was 11.40, 10.82 (400m in 22.22), 11.17 (600m in 33.30) and 11.94 to give her a quick final 800 metre time of 45.33, especially smart on the Soft 5 track.