Nature Strip repeats TJ Smith romp on Day 1 of The Championships at Randwick

When Nature Strip is on song, no horse in the world can match him. It was simply an awesome demonstration of power by Nature Strip in winning the 2021 G1 TJ Smith Stakes on Day 1 of The Championships at Randwick. Nature Strip had won the race previously in 2020 and, in between, had set the Flemington alight in the Group One Lightning Stakes. This renewal of The TJ Smith Stakes was the world class sprinter once again on brand as he left a field of crack antipodean sprinters struggling to keep up.

Australia has produced some world class sprinters over the years, including Black Caviar, Takeover Target, Choisir, Chautauqua, Starspangledbanner and Ortensia. The 2019/20 Australian Racehorse of the Year, Nature Strip, is up there with the best of them.

Nature Strip ranged up to leader Eduardo in the straight, under jockey James Macdonald’s coaching, switched on the burners and the 6YO chestnut gelding powered away putting the race beyond doubt. It was “an annihilation” shouted the racecaller.

He is trained by the master of champions, Chris Waller, well known across the world through the connection with former champion racemare Winx.

Masked Crusader got up for second and Eduardo stuck on well for third.

It was Nature Strip’s 16th career win from 30 starts which has yielded almost $8 million in stakes earnings. 

The TJ Smith was headed by the big 3 of Australian sprinters; Bivouac, Nature Strip and Eduardo. Punters were on Nature Strip as he was sent out $3.20 favourite ahead of Eduardo at $3.60 and Bivouac $4.80. Next in the line of betting was Masked Crusader at $6.50. Tommy Berry’s mount Libertini was next at $11.00 and the rest at much longer odds.

Eduardo was at his peak, running good time on soft ground in The Galaxy to demolish rivals. However the 1200m was the issue for Eduardo.

The Godolphin horse Bivouac had beaten Nature Strip in the past and was caught wide in the Canterbury Stakes. He was ready for the contest.

Nature Strip was grabbed late by a game Eduardo in his most recent race and that form was franked in The Galaxy. Punters knew he’d won the TJ Smith third up from a spell last year.

Nature Strip had won the Lightning Stakes in February down the straight course at Flemington. In the Lightning, Jamie Kah expertly rode Nature Strip down the straight to hold off fast-finishing September Run. At the time, Jamie Kah said Nature Strip was in a great mood all week and was getting better with age.

In the TJ Smith, he was brilliant the way he powered past Eduardo and put a few lengths on the field in the blink of an eye. Just as brilliant as the best casino online.

The Mayor of Thoroughbred Village selected Nature Strip as one of the bets of the day in his morning horse racing selections, Racing Tips and Best Bets. Of course, followers of villagebet were having a good day with the early winner Paulele $6.00 and even better in the last race with Matchmaker winning at $12.

Nature Strip has now won six Group One races; The Galaxy, The Moir, the Darley Sprint Classic, two TJ Smith Stakes and The Lightning Stakes.

He is by Nicconi, himself winner of The Galaxy and The Lightning, out of Strikeline a daughter of Desert Sun. The pedigree features 3×4 Danzig male lines, a feature that was shunned in some circles as a producer of plodders. As one of the best sprinters in the world, he certainly put a line through that theory. International readers can play the best online pokies instead.

Bred by Golden Grove at Denman in NSW, Nature Strip was passed in at the 2016 Melbourne Inglis Premier Yearling Sale but later sold to a syndicate of Melbourne owners for $100,000. The same yearling sale through which undefeated champion sprinter Black Caviar was sold for $210,000 in 2008. Many other champions have been through this ring, including Weekend Hussler, Sacred Kingdom, Alinghi, Starspangledbanner, Ortensia and Ole Kirk.

Sale topper from this year’s sale was a Written Tycoon colt, knocked down for $1.1 million! The new owners of this fledgling yearling would be hoping they have bought into something with even half the ability of Nature Strip. Such is the romance of horse racing!