Superstar jockey James McDonald is confident cult hero Nature Strip can make doubters ‘eat their words’ as the gelding chases a record fourth Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes.
The Autumn Racing Carnival continues on Saturday for day one of Championships at Randwick, and there are four – four! – Group 1 races for punters to lick their lips over.
Nature Strip and the Everest winner Giga Kick clashing in the time-honoured TJ Smith is one of the best match-ups we’ve seen in forever, but horses like Cylinder, Alligator Blood and Pericles are all star runners who are excitement machines for fans.
It’s a popular day for racing and fashion fans alike – but on-track for keen punters, it’s one of the best betting days of the year.
Chris Waller’s cult hero is drifting in betting in the Group 1 TJ Smith despite his lofty status in racing, and Bet Right CEO Anthony Waller says punters are chasing value around the two favourites in the 1200m sprint.
A big day is expected for star Sydney trainer Chris Waller for day one of the Championships at Randwick
Nature Strip is gunning for a fourth Group 1 TJ Smith win for Waller, and is one of the most popular racehorses in Australia thanks to his sizzling turn of foot
Championships are always a hit with fans both on and off the track, and Randwick is set to be pumping yet again on Saturday
‘It’s a great field with 3 three horses vying for favouritism,’ he said.
‘Nature Strip continues to drift from its opening price of $5, and is now $5.75, and will definitely be each-way odds for the race.
‘The 2022 Everest winner Giga Kick has been well supported and opened at $4.40 and now into $4 race favourite, while the James Cummings-trained In Secret sits currently as second favoutite at $5.75.
‘But some of Bet Right’s pro punters want to be on some at longer odds.
‘The John O’Shea-trained Lost and Running is first up, and we opened at $17 – but gelding has been well backed into $13.
‘Meanwhile, Private Eye opened at $10 and has firmed to $8.50, and I wish I Win from the Peter Moody stable has also been well supported and into $9.50.’
It’s now a mystery how we ever let Giga Kick start at $21 for the Everest, and the ex-jockey Clayton Douglas’ three-year-old gelding has now won five from seven.
He might not have won last start, but running third first-up in the Challenge was mighty impressive with some absolutely sizzling sectionals.
But McDonald says Nature Strip, who is chasing an incredible fourth TJ Smith win, has a record that speaks for itself, and was bullish on the iconic Waller runner’s chances.
James McDonald, pictured on cult hero Nature Strip for an exhibition gallop last weekend, is bullish on his runner’s chances of scoring an incredible fourth TJ Smith win
‘Winx scared them all off (running in Group 1 races) but that hasn’t been the case for Nature Strip. The TJ this year is an autumn Everest,’ he told Newscorp.
‘There’s no doubt Nature Strip was off his best in the Lightning, but he’s been training so well and he looks really, really good.
‘I’m confident he’ll perform well and he can make a few people eat their words.
‘Whether or not that mean he’s first, second, third or fourth, we’ll find that out on Saturday.’
The Group 1 Inglis Sires is for the two-year-old stars, and Godolphin runner Cylinder might just be the most impressive two-year-old of the season.
The colt certainly didn’t disappoint as second when starting favourite in the Golden Slipper, running a very quick last 200m to finish just one length behind eventual winner, Shinzo.
Thus, punters are keen to keep piling in.
‘Cylinder, after its second in the Golden Slipper, has been backed in from $2.25 to $2.10,’ said Waller.
‘We think he will get out to $2.60, and are happy to take him on and will be best price all day.’
Cylinder, pictured after winning the Todman Stakes on March 4, will start as the warm favourite in the Group 1 Inglis Sires
Cummings, who’ll have superstar jockey McDonald on board, said he was far from disappointed in his colt’s run in the Slipper.
‘He was very strong on the line in the Golden Slipper in a high-pressure, six-furlong event,’ he said earlier this week.
‘Cylinder shot to the front at the 300 and was holding the rest safely.
‘He’s had the right grounding, he’s beautifully bred for the race and it’s a pretty important Group One opportunity for this colt to establish his future on the roster at Kelvinside.’
But there is certainly still plenty of value in the race, and Waller said a couple of long-shot roughies have been specked in the betting.
‘There has been good support from Bet Right’s pro punters for the Melbourne-based Ciaron Maher and David Eustace colt Brave Mead, who opened at $10 and has now been back into $7,’ he said.
‘If you are looking for some at longer odds, though, both of the Gai Waterhouse, Adrian Bott colts have been specked in the market at big odds, with Bases Loaded opening at $41 and backed into $26, and Butch Cassidy opening at $34 to now sit at $26.’
Iconic trainer Gai Waterhouse and stable partner Adrian Bott have a number of runners on Championships day on Saturday, and a number have been well supported in the Group 1 Inglis Sires
The third Group 1 of the day is the Doncaster Mile, and it is one of the highest-quality fields that we’ve seen in the race in recent memory – though that may prove to be a nightmare for punters given how open it is.
Fan favourite Alligator Blood is the top-weight in the market, but it’s the All Star Mile winner, Mr Brightside, that people are buzzing about.
Since that All Star win the gelding has gone from strength to strength, and with the legendary Zac Purton aboard, he can get him in the perfect spot from barrier two.
‘The All Star Mile winner Mr Brightside is the race favourite at $5.50, yet there continues to be solid support for the Waterhouse Bott-trained Alligator Blood at $9.00, and the Chris Waller-trained Fan Girl ridden by top international hoop Joao Moreira,’ said Waller.
That being said, given the open nature and high-class in the race, there is plenty of value to be found in the race.
Golden Mile, despite a disappointing run in the George Ryder, has been well-backed according to Waller, while an international raider formerly from leading Irish trainer Dermot Weld’s stable has found some support.
Can James Cummings add to his burgeoning trophy cabinet with a win in the Doncaster Mile with Golden Mile, who has been well supported by punters?
‘The James Cummings-trained Golden Mile opened at $34 and has been backed into $15,’ said Waller.
‘First up in Australia, the Eustace-Maher trained Duke De Sessa currently sits at $26 and has had good support from Bet Right’s pro punters.’
The last Group 1 for the day sees yet another Godolphin runner, Pericles, headline the Australian Derby, and McDonald said despite the knock on his gelding, he was bullish on the prospect of a win.
‘Some have a question mark over his (Pericles) ability to run 2400m, but I say this. He almost ran 2500m in the Victoria Derby at his fourth start in his first preparation and he’s a much more seasoned horse now.
I reckon he’s improved since the Rosehill Guineas. The occasion got to him, he was very hyper in the parade ring and took charge of me going to the barriers…but I’ve learnt a few one percenters about him.
‘He’s got a lovely gate to help him run the trip right out. If he executes well, I think he’s the horse to beat. love him as a horse. He gives you some feel.’
Waller said there was certainly support for Pericles in the market, but Hugh Bowman’s mount Sharp ‘N’ Smart was certainly attracting attention on the back of winning two Group 1’s in a row in New Zealand.
Hugh Bowman’s mount Sharp ‘N’ Smart is bringing some top-class Group 1 form across the ditch
‘Bet Right clients only want to be on two horses, being the NZ Derby winner Sharp ‘N’ Smart at $4.80 and the James Cummings-trained Pericles at $3.60,’ he said.
New Zealand raiders are certainly the flavour of the month in this one, and a couple present brilliant value in the market.
‘The Mike Moroney-trained Japanese Emperor opened at $15 and is currently $12 in the betting, whilst Elliptical opened at $17 and has been backed into $13,’ said Waller.
‘Meanwhile two New Zealand runners have been specked at longer odds, being Full Of Sincerity $19 and Andalus at $19.’
Gates will fly back on the first race of the day at 12.10pm, with the chance of showers and a softer track increasing as the day wears on.