It was a memorable day at Randwick on Saturday with racing fans able to say they saw Australia’s two best horses Anamoe and Nature Strip win back-to-back races.
Anamoe continued on his winning way in the George Main Stakes (1600m) and had racing fans licking their lips wondering how far he could go this spring when he hit the line but they had to temper their expectations with the news he pulled up lame.
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James Cummings is hopeful that he might be able to continue his spring campaign but Godolphin for a myriad of reasons will take the most cautious approach they can with him as there’s no upside in such a valuable horse to the races with even the slightest hint of a niggle.
Bookmakers took a set against Nature Strip letting him get out to $2.40 and they were punished for their generosity as he didn’t look like losing.
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Although Nature Strip is an eight-year-old gelding and has won 22 races and $19 million in prizemoney the words of his trainer Chris Waller suggested the best is yet to come.
Waller said Nature Strip had finally learnt to settle in his races.
“He’s got ringcraft now and can switch off and do it better. It’s a good first-up run and he’ll take improvement from it,” Waller said.
Another Everest beckons for him. Nature Strip is $2.10 with TopSport to win The Everest on October 15.
HORSES TO FOLLOW
TOP RANKED
Annabel Neasham has always had a big opinion of Top Ranked and he showed why with his win in the Bill Ritchie Stakes where he proved too good despite carrying 59.5kg conceding his rivals between 5.5 and 6 kilos. He relished the fast speed and proved he’s on track for the Epsom Handicap where he will drop to 55kg. Top Ranked is $6 with TopSport for the Epsom.
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ICEBATH
She’s good on dry surfaces but when it’s wet she takes it up another level. Great run to finish second to Anamoe in the George Main Stakes. She’s finished second to Zaaki and Anamoe this campaign. She deserves a Group 1 win and it should be coming soon. TopSport markets suggest it will be at her next start where she is $4.80 for the Epsom.
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LOST AND RUNNING
He finished fourth in last year’s running of The Everest and showed with his fast finishing effort for second behind Nature Strip he’s going just as well if not better.
BENAUD
He didn’t lose any admirers with his good finishing effort to finish second behind Alegron in the Kingston Town Stakes over 2000m. There’s nothing between that pair but when the distance stretches out as it will when they clash in the Metropolitan it swings to Benaud’s favour.
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