If Nature Strip gains a slot in the AU$13,000,000 Everest Oddy, one of the horses he'll meet is the flying Vega Magic. This was his win lat Saturday. No 2.
From my very rough calculations Cyc (using a stop watch ), Vega Magic was covering about 17.14 m per sec and Nature strip about 17.5 m per sec. if the latter maintains that speed over the extra 150m, he wins by about 25m. I don't think any horse maintains the same rate over the 2 distances but they both won easily so should be a very interesting race if they meet. Have they ever run over the same distance? If so, do you have their times?
The Everest is a 1200m race held in Sydney. This year will be it's second running. Last year it was worth $10,000,000 but they've stacked an extra $3,000,000 on top to claim it as the world's richest race. Last year Vega Magic was a very unlucky second. After being trapped 3 and 4 wide throughout he went down a length to Redzel. As far as I can see Ron, Nature Strip has the wood on Vega Magic on times. But these times were on mostly different courses and race quality. Vega Magic has raced with great success against top flight opponents while Nature Strip has been flogging lesser stock. They have both raced over the 1000m at Flemington with NS's time a lot quicker. NS has blazed over 1000m in 1:2:2 while VM has covered the trip in 1:3:5. VM had the better going too. I think the stats point to Nature Strip being the faster horse, but he hasn't really been tested in heated battles like Vega Magic has. As it stands at the moment, none of the 12 slot holders have come knocking at Nature Strips door as yet. And from what I gather, there are not too many slots open. But on form he seems up to the job, so I'd be surprised if nobody chases him. Even though he's not yet in the race, he's fourth favourite in betting at around 15-2. Last year's race. Vega Magic is in the pink and blue with black sleeves. He comes down the outside.
Yes a bit unlucky there Cyc but didn't finish much in front of Redkirk Warrior. I believe RW beat Redzel recently but didn't see the race so maybe Redzel was unlucky that day. I'm thinking Nature Strip at this stage and the 15/2 looks very tempting. Probably start fav if he turns up
The two big guns begin to unwind their runs at about 7:33 into the race. One with a green rug, the other in yellow.
Yesterday at Mons in Belgium trotting fans had the pleasure of seeing Aubrion du Gers, one of the best horses in Europe compete in the G1 Grand Prix of Wallonia over the 2300m trip. Going into the race his only real opponent seemed to be the the lovely filly Uza Josselyn, but she was brought undone by some stable driving and a spot of bad luck. The filly was too quick from the gate for Aubrion de Gers and crossed him to lead. But the wily old master Jos Verbeeck had all the bases covered on the champ. It can be noticed that with about a a lap and a half to go, No 7 Barrio Josselyn, the stablemate of Aubrion de Gers starts to circle from the back. Verbeeck looking over his shoulder, sees him coming and moves out to challenge the filly. He eyeballs Uza Josselyn's driver and presses on. Not wanting to spend too much fuel so far out, the driver of the filly hands up the lead. As soon as this happens, Verbeeck slows the pace giving the stablemate the chance to slip up on the outside and trap the filly behind Aubrion du Gers. From there Uza Josselyn was a shot duck. She then ran into the sulky of the leader and galloped on the bend when full of running. Her run can be forgotten.
I've just had a look at the Nassau Stakes. Just how good is this field suppose to be? With so many of them being so close together near the finish, I sort of wondered at he level of the runners.
Difficult to tell Cyc. It was a very slowly run race (just 0.32 secs faster than the class 2 handicap earlier). However, given she was beaten 4l by Magic Wand who was thrashed by Sea of Class, I wouldn't think she was top class. If she is, then Sea of Class looks very interesting for the Arc. Mind you, at 16/1 she could be over-priced
Yesterday the G3 Grand National du Trot took place over the 2975m course at Saint Malo. After winning 7 of his last 8, Cleangame went into the race a warm favourite. He began of 25m and settled well back. He's in the white, red banded black sleeves, black cap with red bands. He comes 3 deep with a lap to run. He looks like a very smart horse. He smashed the track record.
Last Tuesday in the Prix des Hetres at Cabourg, Django Riff, having his first start since April, launched off the 25m mark and quickly began to circle the field. He claimed the lead and his driver pulled him under forcing the field to compact. Detroit Castelets move to second trapping Direct Way on the rope behind Django Riff. Driven hard down the running, Django Riff held off Detroit Castelets with Direct Way unable to get into the open. He was very unlucky. Django Riff is in the blue with yellow striped sleeves and yellow cap.
Yesterday at Enghien, Aubrion du Gers, a horse considered among the best geldings in global trotting, met the classy Bird Parker in the 2875m, G2 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere in what was thought to be a two horse race. It proved to be just that. The winner took 1.3 seconds off the track record. Aubrion settled third before taking the lead. Bird Parker sat on his hammer the whole way. Aburion du Gers (10) is in dark blue with red sash and cap. Bird Parker (11), dark blue, yellow striped sleeves and cap.
On the same program, the German square gaiter Orlando Jet made a one act affair of the G3 Prix de la Porte de Versailles, stopping the clock in a record for the 2150m. The big, bold going five year old started at 1-3 and looks to have a bright future. He starts from the outside of the front line and leads throughout.
Winx resumes this weekend in a 1400m race named in her honour. These are pretty scary times for admirers of the great mare. If ever there's a chance of defeat, it's first up. And at 7 years of age, the 2000m specialist must now been taken on trust over this distance. Maybe not too much of a risk though as she goes into the race as a $1.12 shot. The second favourite, the Godolphin entire Kementari could be the one to break the 25 race winning streak. The Cummings trained horse is working the house down and it wouldn't surprise to see him make a real race out of it.
