Saturday summary: Nature Strip explosive in Everest, Incentivise all quality in Cup

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Emotional victory

Emotions ran high in the Randwick mounting yard after Nature Strip (Nicconi) had reigned supreme in the $15 million The TAB The Everest at Randwick and a victory that came hard on the heels of him retaining his title as Australia’s Champion Sprinter.

Trainer Chris Waller wears his heart on his sleeve and he was tearful as his sprinting pride and joy returned to a raucous welcome of 10,000 people allowed on course, although they impressively made the noise of thousands more.

“It’s a race that’s captured the imagination of so many people inside and out of racing. I didn’t feel it until now and it’s a little different, but when he crossed the line it certainly hit home,” he said.

“It’s a race that has taken over Australia and it’s a race that has taken on new ideas and portrayed racing in the right way.”

Nature Strip bounced well to sit in second spot and forged clear 200 metres from home and held out the barnstorming late run of Masked Crusader (Toronado {Ire}) to win by 0.2l with a gallant Eduardo (Host {Chi}) third.

“We didn’t panic really and kept it simple and started a bit later with his preparation and let him do the rest. All my team are close to the horse, not just Nature Strip but the rest of them,” Waller said.

“It’s a great story and that’s what our team is about, work away and win some big races. He got the highest-rated sprinter in the world for a reason and that gave me confidence and he’s justified it.”

Waller said Nature Strip would now have a break and then head to Melbourne for the G1 Darley Sprint Classic.

Their Cup runneth over

The spring of content continued for trainer Peter Moody and jockey Brett Prebble when stable newcomer Incentivise (Shamus Award) demolished his rivals with another powerhouse display in the G1 Caulfield Cup.

Sent to Moody off the back of six Queensland victories by part-owner and former trainer Steve Tregea, Incentivise posted Group 1 wins in the Makybe Diva S., Turnbull S. and before turning the Cup into a procession.

The 5-year-old, now a $3.50 favourite for the G1 Melbourne Cup, was parked five-wide early before he settled in third spot and then peeled out to challenge 800 metres from home and waltzed clear to score by 3.5l from Nonconformist (Rebel Raider) with Persan (Pierro) third.

Moody was grateful to Tregea and his ownership group for entrusting the stayer to his care.

"It's unbelievable. Caulfield was my home for 16 or 17 years and I trained a couple of thousand winners here, but never this one. It’s very important to win it,” he said. “I’ve had unbelievable support and it’s all a big team effort from everyone.”

Prebble said Incentive’s performance told him in no uncertain terms that he is associated with a potential G1 Melbourne Cup winner.

"He doesn't over-race, he doesn't waste his energy like some of the others do. I was surprised he came off the bridle a bit sooner than I would have liked and I showed him the whip before the home turn.

“All that is telling me is look out Melbourne Cup, he is going to eat up the 3200 metres. He is exciting, probably one of the most exciting horses I've ridden."

Moody also ended the day on a high when he produced Oxley Road (Exceed And Excel) to win the G2 McCafe Caulfield Sprint at just his sixth appearance.

“It’s just fantastic, there is a lot of hard work goes into it behind the scenes and a huge effort from the team at home,” Catherine Cameron said.

“It’s just so rewarding for everyone. He is a horse that has always showed us so much ability at home and so satisfying to see him do that.”

Champagne performance

Quality mare Savy Yong Blonk (NZ) (Savabeel) was given a fine ride by Danielle Johnson and she had the talent to deliver with an outstanding victory in the G1 Livamol Classic.

The Jamie Richards-trained 6-year-old opened her spring campaign with a late run for sixth behind in the G1 Tarzino Trophy, but then blew the start when unplaced at Te Rapa.

“It has always been the plan to head to this race, but it does dent the confidence a wee bit off the back of a below par performance that she put in at Te Rapa,” Richards said. “You just have to take her on trust to get away from the gates cleanly, which she did and Danielle gave her a lovely ride.

“She is off to visit Super Seth and we will then race her on. I am absolutely thrilled she has a Group 1 now as she thoroughly deserves it.”

Johnson was both delighted and a little relieved to secure the victory after being narrowly beaten on two occasions earlier in the day.

“It has been a long day and I’m very glad I held on to this one,” she said. “I kept her trotting and tried to keep her awake before the start, as she missed the kick the other day.”

Bred and raced by Jim and Bill Gartshore, under their Gartshore Bloodstock banner, Savy Yong Blonk has now won eight of her 27 starts and more NZ$485,000 in prizemoney.

“It is a wonderful feeling to be here. He is just a super horse. For Mick (Lill), you must have the greatest smile on your face. He has been a trainer, he bred this horse and it is a great result for him, my staff and my family.”

Consolation for Colette

Colette (Hallowed Crown) picked up a more than respectable consolation prize at Caulfield when she produced a gallant performance to win the G2 Lexus Tristarc S.

The James Cummings-trained 5-year-old had been on a patch to the G1 Caulfield Cup and a late closing fifth in the G1 Makybe Diva S. was evidence she was on target before a foot issue derailed her campaign.

“She had an abscess that was quite stubborn and weakened the foot. She had days at the beach between work,” stable representative Sean Keogh said.

The setback counted her out of the Cup, but her class was evident when she was able to finish determinedly to get the job done over 1400 metres in the Tristarc at the expense of Steinem (GB) (Frankel {GB}).

“Her residual fitness held up and it was great to see her pull it off. It’s not unknown territory for her over 1400 metres,” Keogh said, referring to her first-up defeat of Kolding (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) and Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) in last season’s G2 Apollo S.

Back-up works a treat

Michael Moroney’s decision to send Buffalo River (USA) (Noble Mission {GB}) into action for the second time in the space of a week proved a masterstroke when the 6-year-old high-tailed it to victory in the G3 Neds Moonga S.

Moroney’s sprinter had finished runner-up in the Listed Weekend Hussler S. last weekend and the prospect of rain-affected ground at Caulfield prompted the Flemington trainer to send the gelding around again.

“We hadn’t backed him up before, but we had a look at the forecast and it all fell into place,” he said. “It was a good, tough win and it all fell into place for us.”

Buffalo River was given no peace once he got to the front, but still had the temerity to kick clear and had enough in reserve to see off the late challenge of King Magnus (Magnus) and Justacanta (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) took third money.

“He can overdo it a bit and he had to work to get across, but he has got a high-cruising speed so he’s done a really good job,” Moroney said.

“He’s not overly big, but he is a real racehorse and he tries so hard all the time.”

Home track double

Caulfield trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr enjoyed a stellar day on their home track with Daisies (Sebring) landing the thick end of the stake in the G3 Schweppes Ethereal S. and Gunstock (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) was too good in the G3 Neds Classic.

Both 3-year-old will make their next appearances in G1 company with Daisies in the VRC Oaks and Gunstock the VRC Derby.

Daisies was caught out on a limb in the early stages before she was allowed to stride to the front at the half-way point by rider Damian Lane and that was the winning of the race.

“She began a bit sticky and I wanted to be handy, but it didn’t work out early,” he said. “When the tempo came out of the race I let her run to the lead. She relaxed well and she was too good.”

Gunstock was also given a tidy ride by Jye McNeil and, like her stablemate, his trainers have always believed he would come into his own over a middle distance.

Parade the finished article

The victory of Big Parade (Deep Field) in the G3 Moet and Chandon Sydney S. at Randwick proved to trainer Mark Newnham that the 5-year-old has matured into the real deal.

“He has turned into a really tough, genuine, top-line horse now and has developed a really good record. It’s his first full preparation as a gelding and he’s just doing everything consistently better,” he said.

Big Parade sat off the pace and when rider Joshua Parr asked for a serious effort in the straight he responded positively to beat Standout (Exceed And Excel).

“His moods are a lot better, he’s consistent in his parades and he goes on wet and dry tracks. He’s able to put himself into a position early and showed again that he can take a sit,” Newnham said.

“The only worrying part was I think he switched off too much there on the corner. Josh actually gave him a couple with the stick there at the 500 to wake him up, but it was still really good to see him dig when he got challenged.”

Home sweet home

Kerry Parker’s decision to remain in Sydney with Think It Over (So You Think {NZ}) earned another major pay day when the 6-year-old romped to victory in the G3 Yulong Craven Plate.

“It was lovely to see the track keep improving. There were a couple of sleepless night there during the week with the weather, but I was rapt to see it dry out. It doesn’t matter what happens from here, it’s been a great decision,” the Kembla Grange trainer said.

Think It Over had landed the G2 Hill S. at his previous start and he came from third spot in the running to overpower Sky Lab (Real Impact {Jpn}) by nearly 2l.

“Full credit to my bloke, he’s a good horse. It got to the point where I had to say to myself I’m in a lovely rhythm and to allow my horse to do the rest and that’s exactly what he did,” rider Nash Rawiller said.

“Kerry has done a wonderful job with him. What has alluded us this time in is a Group 1, but he will gain a lot of confidence out of this preparation. It sets him up beautifully for the autumn.”

Back to winning ways

Group 1 performer Two Illicit (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) resumed in style with an impressive victory in the G3 Red Badge Spring Sprint at Hastings.

Bred by Trelawney Stud, who remains in the ownership, she dashed out of the pack for her sixth win from 14 starts and her first since she finished sixth in the G3 Lord Mayor’s Cup at Eagle Farm in May.

“She is a very, very talented horse and she showed that as a 3-year-old. She’s had a few niggles so hopefully we can keep her right and it’s onward and upward,” co-trained Robert Wellwood said.

Two Illicit won at Group 2 level in the Royal S. and Waikato Guineas before she ran second in the G1 New Zealand Derby at three.

The 5-year-old is a daughter of Gemini (NZ) (Tale Of The Cat {USA}) and she is a half-sister to the G3 Maurice McCarten H. winner and G1 Oakleigh Plate placegetter Easy Eddie (Super Easy {NZ}).

Mission accomplished

A long-term plan with Art Cadeau (Artie Schiller {USA}) was executed to perfection when he triumphed in the $1.3 million The Kosciuszko at Randwick in the hands of Tommy Berry.

Trainer Terry Robinson set the 5-year-old for the race after he had won the Country Championship Final on the course back in the autumn and opted not to give the gelding a run in between.

“I’m just so proud of them. Tommy has been fantastic, he’s been a great friend. I’ve got to give a great wrap to my staff too,” Robinson said.

“I had a bad fall six weeks ago and my brother has actually ridden the horse most of his work since then. I was just fortunate he was able to come back and give me a hand.

“Should we aim for it again next year? If he hangs together and everything goes to plan, why not?”

Berry paid tribute to the conditioning skills of Robinson after he had brought Art Cadeau with a powerful late finish to nab Handle The Truth (Star Witness).

“A lot of people where querying whether Terry could do it first-up, but knows this horse back to front,” Berry said.

“He had a bit of work to do at the top of the straight. As I said all week, we don’t know how good he is. Every time we raise the bar he keeps jumping it, he just loves to get in a bit of a battle.”