Nature Strip was Australia’s Horse of the Year for the 2019-2020 season, one of the most coveted honors in the sport. Now, Nature Strip can claim another milestone: winner of the $11.05 million Everest Stakes, the richest sprint in the world.
Nature Strip led throughout Saturday’s Everest Stakes at six furlongs at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney in his third consecutive appearance in the lucrative race. Nature Strip was fourth in 2019 and seventh last year.
Ridden by James McDonald for trainer Chris Waller, Nature Strip ($6.20) took the lead shortly after the start while racing wide and was fully extended to hold off a late threat from 11-1 Masked Crusader. Nature Strip, favored in American pools, prevailed by about a neck.
Eduardo, who had set the pace in past starts, raced as a stalker and finished third as the 5-2 second choice. Classique Legend, the winner of the 2020 Everest, finished fifth as the 3-1 third choice in a field of 12.
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The first three finishers occupied the same positions in the Group 1 T.J. Smith Stakes at six furlongs in April, the top sprint in Sydney in the early part of the year.
Nature Strip, a 7-year-old gelding, has won 18 of 33 starts. Nature Strip won the Group 3 Concorde Stakes at five furlongs at Randwick on Sept. 4 in his first start after a layoff of nearly four months, and was second, by a little less than a half-length, to Eduardo in the Group 2 The Shorts Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs at Randwick on Sept. 18.
Waller said Nature Strip will be pointed to the Group 1 Darley Sprint Classic at six furlongs at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne on Nov. 6.
The $1.46 million Darley Sprint Classic will be run four days after the Melbourne Cup at Flemington, Australia’s most famous race.
The Melbourne Cup at two miles has an undisputed favorite after Incentivise won Saturday’s Group 1 Caulfield Cup at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne for his ninth consecutive win.
Ridden by Brett Prebble, Incentivise ($4.40) was wide for much of the $3.68 million race at 1 1/2 miles after breaking from the outside post in a field of 18. Incentivise was well positioned with a half-mile remaining and took the lead with a powerful move in early stretch to win by 3 1/2 lengths over 10-1 Nonconformist. Persan, a 60-1 outsider, finished third.
Incentivise is trained by Peter Moody for a partnership that includes former trainer Steve Tregea. A 5-year-old gelding, Incentivise has won three consecutive Group 1 races, including the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at a mile on Sept. 11 and the Turnbull Stakes at 1 1/4 miles on Oct. 2, both at Flemington.
The Caulfield Cup was Incentivise’s longest start. There is a possibility Incentivise could be back on the track as quickly as next Saturday for the Group 1 Cox Plate at about 1 1/4 miles at Moonee Valley Racecourse in Flemington, Australia’s top weight-for-age race at longer distances.
Incentivise is co-owned by Ozzie Kheir, who was part of the partnership of 2020 Cox Plate winner Sir Dragonet, who was euthanized on Saturday after suffering a training injury at Moonee Valley Racecourse.
