Saturday's Listed Lightning S. at Morphettville was billed as a match race between the 3-year-old gelding Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) and 2-year-old filly Sunlight (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}), and despite giving the Magic Millions 2YO Classic and dual group winner Sunlight 16 pounds, Nature Strip was in command at the top of the stretch and bounded clear to win by six lengths in an effort that will likely have turned the heads of the three remaining slot holders for the A$13-million The Everest.
Off a beat slow as Sunlight shot out of the barriers, Nature Strip began to pressure his rival at about the halfway point, and Sunlight-making her first start since a third in the G1 Golden Slipper on Mar. 31-began to fold rounding the turn. Nature Strip could hardly have been more visually impressive in the lane, drawing off to win by six lengths under a hard hold from Damian Lane. Nature Strip is now three-for-three since joining trainer Darren Weir, and came into this race-fit, having taken a June 23 handicap and the Listed Creswick S. on July 7, both at Flemington.
“It wasn't overly pretty with him missing the start and over-racing a bit, but there wouldn't be a faster horse going around,” Weir told Racing.com. “He got trucking up a bit getting towards the corner but then when he went around the corner and let rip, it was always going to make it hard for the others to run him down. It was a terrific run away from that and it will give some people a few things to think about. He's an exciting horse and once he learns to get it all together and switch off, 1200 metres won't be any worry.”
Saturday, Morphettville, Australia
LIGHTNING S.-Listed, A$97,285, SAJC, 7-28, 2 & 3yo, Open Set Weight, 1050mT, 1:00.68, Soft.
1–NATURE STRIP, 59.0, g, 3, by Nicconi
1st Dam: Strikeline, by Desert Sun (GB)
2nd Dam: Strike High, by Pre Emptive Strike (CAN)
3rd Dam: Flight Hostess, by Zamazaan (FR)
O-R A E Lyons, P D Harrison, P N Kean, S W Hansen, G L Smith,
J P Van Duuren, P J Balderstone, K C Garland, D McCluskey, C A
Bennett, G D Dumesny, F Giampaolo, Ms D J McShane, T G Mc;
B-Golden Grove Stud Farm NSW; T-D K Weir; J-Damian Lane;
A$64,285. Lifetime Record: 10-7-2-0, A$571,085. *1/2 to The
Barrister (Aus) (Star Witness {Aus}), SW-Aus.
2–Sunlight, 52.0, f, 2, Zoustar–Solar Charged, by Charge
Forward. O-Mrs L Fung, Ms R C Parker, Mrs I E Mitchell, Mrs K
L Thompson, Mrs R J Fletcher, Miss S R Fletcher, Miss J R
Fletcher, Miss H Wall & G1g Racing & Breeding (Mgr: Mrs T L
Vogel); B-Widden Stud Australia Pty Ltd NSW; T-Tony McEvoy;
J-Jamie Kah; A$17,000.
3–Fancy Rumble, 57.0, f, 3, Reward for Effort–Addicted to
Wealth, by Dolphin Street (FR). (A$30,000 Ylg 2016 MM
Adelaide Yearling Sale) O-Finniss Equine Retreat, G A Kent, R
Borda & Mrs N A Borda; B-Mr D Hornhardt SA; T-W F Francis &
G Kent; J-Todd Pannell; A$8,000.
Margins: 6.0 len, 7.3 len, 7.4 len. Also Ran: Thompson's Reward, Splashette, Lady Soma, Bris Vegas.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
