On The Watch

Nature Strip and Vega Magic again show their talent with fast sectional times

Vega Magic’s first-up win in the Bletchingly Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) at Caulfield being sufficiently impressive that slot-holder James Harron subsequently secured a start for the dual Group 1-winning sprinter in our richest race at Randwick on October 13.

But the rising young sprinting star Nature Strip remains in the wings, Saturday’s six-length victory in the Lightning Stakes (Listed, 1050m) at Morphettville still not tempting slot-holders to offer him a spot in the race despite comparably impressive times.

Having only his tenth start, Nature Strip still lacks the experience of his well-performed rivals, his best wins being two in Listed class – but he has the speed to compete well beyond that which he demonstrated again on Saturday.

Nature Strip was a bit slow to move but soon recovered to settle outside the leader, the high quality filly Sunlight (Zoustar) at a good tempo.

He put pressure on Sunlight nearing the home turn, soon got the upper hand and went to the front shortly after straightening before racing away from his rival to beat her effortlessly in a time of 1:00.68 for the 1050 metre journey.

That represents a 200 metre rate of 11.55, equivalent to 57.79 for 1000 metres, an impressive time on the soft 5 track, while Nature Strip’s mid-race sectionals were outstanding.

Clocked from the 800 metre point, Nature Strip’s 200 metre breakdown was 10.78, 10.62 (400m in 21.40), 10.93 (600m in a brilliant 32.33) and 11.73 to give him a final 800 metres in a fast 44.06.

Nature Strip now remains unbeaten in three starts for leading trainer Darren Weir but doubters still question his race experience in tackling the weight-for-age Everest and the fact that he only holds one win over its 1200 metre distance.

But judging by his times, Nature Strip remains a worthy contender.

Vega Magic, runner-up in the inaugural Everest last year, was having his first run on Saturday since finishing eighth in The Goodwood (Gr 1, 1200m) at Morphettville in May – a performance that had slot-holders wondering.

But the Lindsay Park-trained sprinter bounced back to form with an easy three-length win in a time of 1:10.18 on the good 4 track.

Racing in blinkers for the first time, Vega Magic soon drove though on the rails to retain the lead but then appeared to travel a bit too keenly until Damien Oliver managed to settle him to a reasonable degree before racing clear in the straight to score easily from a quality field.

Vega Magic’s sectional times were excellent, his 200 metre breakdown (from the 1000 metres) being: 10.76, 11.08 (400m in 21.84), 11.46 (600m in 33.30), 11.11 (800m in 44.41) with his last 200 metres in 11.80 to give him a fast last 1000 metres time of 56.30.

Apart from Vega Magic, the runner-up Voodoo Lad (I Am Invincible) and fourth-placed Black Heart Bart (Blackfriars), both from the Darren Weir stable, impressed on the watch.

Voodoo Lad came from last in the six-horse field and was clocked to run his final 1000 metres in 56.22, last 800 metres in 45.39, last 600 metres in 34.37, last 400 metres in 22.88 with his final 200 metres in 11.72 – fastest closing sectional times of the race.

He was having only his second run this preparation after scoring a smart first-up win in the Sir John Monash Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) at Caulfield on July 14 – Voodoo Lad has obviously returned to training in very good order.

His stablemate Black Heart Bart was having his first run since racing in Perth in December and the now eight-year-old showed sufficient in running on for fourth to indicate that he is far from a spent force.

Black Heart Bart was timed to run his last 1000 metres in 56.68, last 800 metres in 45.80, last 600 metres in 34.77, last 400 metres in 23.32 with his final 200 metres in 11.92.

And while this week’s column has focused on quality horses in stakes races from last weekend, one of the standout performances on the watch was recorded by the NSW country-trained gelding Sharpe Hussler (Husson) in winning the Benchmark 79 Sprint (1100m) at Rosehill.

The former Queensland-trained gelding has raced from the Mudgee stable of Cameron Crockett since last October and was a last start winner of an Open Handicap (1010m) at Dubbo, form that saw him open in betting at $51.00 on Saturday.

But, nevertheless, he was still fancied by a number of supporters and eventually went to the post at odds of $16.00.

After being last in the 12-horse field until the 600 metres, talented apprentice Sam Weatherley steered Sharpe Hussler between runners rounding the bend before he produced an impressive turn of foot to score by a length and a half.

His overall time for the 1100 metres was 1:04.46 (11.72 200m rate), equivalent to 1200 metres in 1:10.32 but it was his sectional times that were the standout.

Sharpe Hussler’s 200 metre breakdown (from 1000m) being: 11.09, 11.09, 10.98, 10.95 and 11.25 to give him fast closing sectionals of 55.36 (last 1000m), 44.27 (last 800m), 33.18 (last 600m) and 22.20 for his final 400 metres.

He is now a well-travelled seven-year-old gelding with eight wins from 32 starts but a repeat of those times would see Sharpe Hussler effective in much stronger classes than he raced against on Saturday.

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