Nature Strip is out to make history seeking his third Champions Sprint victory when Chris Waller’s reigning Australian Racehorse of the Year takes on a gun field in the $3 million showdown at headquarters on Saturday.
Two-time champion Nature Strip is out to add to his impressive record in the 2022 Champions Sprint at Flemington on Saturday. Photo: Steve Hart.
Stakes Day at Flemington features a triple-shot of elite level racing this year including the Group 1 $3 million Darley Champions Sprint (1200m).
Nature Strip comes into the event a dual champ having won in 2019 and last year, the latter when backing-up from his victory in the world’s richest turf race.
The eight-year-old again comes off the $15 million The Everest (1200m) at Randwick when unsuccessful, but far from disgraced, running fourth only a length beaten in his failed title defence.
A winner of over $20 million in prize money and an international Group 1 winner at this year’s Royal Ascot, the son of Nicconi is fit third-up back down the Flemington straight where he boasts an outstanding record (9:6-2-0).
“He’s fit and well and this looks like being a very good field,” Waller told Racenet speaking of the world’s number-one rated sprinter.
The Champions Sprint markets at Ladbrokes have him into odds-on territory at $1.95 from the outside alley (12) with James McDonald aboard.
Two last start winners join Nature Strip at single-figures in the markets including his last start conqueror, Clayton Douglas’s shock The Everest winning three-year-old Giga Kick ($6.50) and Manikato Stakes winning mare Bella Nipotina ($5).
Giga Kick was enormous last start flying home ahead of his older rivals at just his fifth start to retain his flawless record at a big price.
He has won both his previous Flemington assignments, including the Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1100m) two back, and is out to further prove his star status with another win over Nature Strip in their rematch.
Bella Nipotina finally broke through for her well-deserved maiden Group 1 success after a career of close calls when taking out the rescheduled Maniakto Stakes (1200m) on Cox Plate Day.
She is prepared by Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup winning trainers Ciaron Maher & David Eustace who celebrated their 20th Group 1 win as a partnership in the ‘race that stops a nation’ with Gold Trip carrying the 57.5kg topweight to victory.
An exciting daughter of Pride Of Dubai, Bella Nipotina stands to take her earnings up over $6 million should she win again this weekend and take out the additional $1 million bonus for completing the Manikato – Champions Sprint double.
Rothfire (McEwen Stakes) and Paulele (Schillaci Stakes) are also eligible for the bonus offered to sprinters that win both the Champions Sprint and at least one of the specified lead-up races.
Others in the Champions Stakes field at generous odds for an upset include The Kosciuszko winner Front Page ($26) second-in in barrier three and the autumn’s 100/1 Group 1 Newmarket Handicap winner at the track/distance Roch ‘N’ Horse ($26) racing well again this prep.
The 2022 Darley Champions Sprint runs as Race 6 at 3:50pm (AEDT) on Saturday’s nine-race card at Flemington.
