The Winners Stakes, run this year as the Nature Strip Stakes, is a 1300m special conditions feature run at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse. The $3m set weights plus penalties sprint is yet another new addition to the calendar and is renamed each year in honour of the previous year’s Everest winner.
Looking at the market for this year’s race, last start Premiere Stakes winner, Lost And Running, has come up favourite and is currently $2.60 with Dabble. The Everest placegetters, Mazu ($4.20) and Private Eye ($5.50) are given good hopes and 9YO warhorse, Eduardo, is also in the market at $7.50.
However, we know with horse racing that anything can happen and as we saw in The Everest, there isn’t a lot between these top class sprinters. So, we have dissected each of the horses’ chances for you and provided our horse racing tips! Read on below to find our runner by runner preview of the 2022 Nature Strip Stakes along with The Shark’s best tips.
1. Eduardo (11) – $7.50
Jockey – Nash Rawiller 58.5kg
Trainer – Joseph Pride
Won this race last year off the back of a solid third in The Everest. He comes into this following a lacklustre performance in this year’s The Everest, where he was tailed off. Burnt a lot of petrol early on that occasion and should get a softer lead here. Has a brilliant record at Rosehill (5:4-0-0) and can make amends if he gets a couple of soft sectionals mid race.
2. Private Eye (12) – $5.50
Jockey – Brenton Avdulla 58.5kg
Trainer – Joseph Pride
Demolished his rivals first up at Flemington before a terrific runner up performance in The Everest last start. Was probably ridden a pair too close on that occasion and from the outside gate here will be taken back to find cover. Clearly racing at the top of his game and can win on what we’ve seen of him this prep.
The final leg of the $6 million Sportsbet Sydney Sprint Series is Saturday’s Nature Strip Stakes – check out the field and barriers for the $3 million sprint 👇 pic.twitter.com/MWz7X1xiek
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) October 26, 2022
3. Mazu (1) – $4.20
Jockey – Sam Clipperton 58.5kg
Trainer – Peter & Paul Snowden
Racing well this prep without a win. Charged home late in The Everest last start to be beaten just under a length. Has a brilliant record here at Rosehill and the extra 100m looks favourable. Will get a suck run from the inside draw and will be right in the finish providing the gaps open up.
4. Masked Crusader (6) – $11
Jockey – Tommy Berry 58.5kg
Trainer – Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
Made a complete mess of the start last time out in The Everest and did a good job to finish as close as he did. His run prior in the Premiere suggested he was nearing his best and the 1300m here looks ideal. If he jumps away cleanly and gets on the back of the right horse, he can definitely figure in the finish.
5. Kolding (8) – $81
Jockey – Frankie Dettori 58.5kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
Been back to the trials after a dismal first up run in the Theo Marks. Gets a few gear changes here and is a two time winner at the trip but needs to improve on recent form and may find them a bit sharp here.
6. Shelby Sixtysix (4) – $126
Jockey – Jason Collett 58.5kg
Trainer – Danny Williams
*This horse has since been scratched.*
Struggling to recapture his form from the Autumn. Prefers wet ground which he won’t get here and it’s hard to see him figuring in the money on his recent efforts. Not keen.
7. Lost And Running (5) – $2.60F
Jockey – Hugh Bowman 57.5kg
Trainer – John O’Shea
Took ground off Nature Strip first up in The Shorts before a dominant win in the Premiere Stakes. Was well supported to win The Everest but was taken out race morning due to a hind fetlock problem. Has been back to the trials since and looked sharp, has a good record at Rosehill and handles all surfaces. Looks hard to beat.
“We were very optimistic about his chances but we still have a healthy happy horse so that’s the main thing.”
The Everest has to wait until 2023, but John O’Shea says Lost And Running is all set for Saturday’s Nature Strip Stakes.📸@Bradley_Photos
READ: https://t.co/vwEEHf6Cir pic.twitter.com/NSoyVmuRWG
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) October 26, 2022
8. Kementari (10) – $26
Jockey – Jamie Kah 57.5kg
Trainer – James Cummings
Got a late call up last start for The Everest and was far from disgraced finishing seventh. His run prior in the Premiere was good behind Lost And Running. Step up to 1300m is ideal and there’s no reason he can’t bob up in the first four or five again here as he so often does.
9. Brutality (9) – $71
Jockey – Regan Bayliss 57.5kg
Trainer – Joseph Pride
Ran some very good late sectionals first up in the Premiere and again last start in the Sydney Stakes. Looks to be absolutely airborne this prep and has a good record at Rosehill. This looks about as tough a race as he wants but with a genuine tempo up front he can finish off and run into the placings at big odds.
10. Rocketing By (2) – $31
Jockey – Rachel King 56.5kg
Trainer – David Pfeiffer
Caused a major upset in the Sydney Stakes last start, where he burrowed up the inside and got the bob in on the line. His form prior was just fair and this race looks a lot tougher. Willing to go around him here.
11. Weona Smartone (7) – $18
Jockey – William Pike 56kg
Trainer – David Vandyke
Qld gelding who had a nice run and almost got the chocolates last start in the Sydney Stakes. Has a brilliant winning record and will get a good trail behind the speed here but will need to produce a career best to beat this lot.
12. Riodini (3) – $81
Jockey – Tim Clark 56kg
Trainer – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Covered ground and found the line well first up in the Sydney Stakes. This looks a tough ask second up but from the good draw could give a bit of cheek at massive odds.
Final Word
Although there’s no Nature Strip or Giga Kick in this feature sprint, there is plenty of depth and The Everest form to dissect. Eduardo looks the likely leader from the wide gate which should ensure a genuine tempo and give all runners their chance.
👀🔥
The Nature Strip Stakes field:
1. Eduardo (11)
2. Private Eye (12)
3. Mazu (1)
4. Masked Crusader (6)
5. Kolding (8)
6. Shelby Sixtysix (4)
7. Lost And Running (5)
8. Kementari (10)
9. Brutality (9)
10. Rocketing By (2)
11. Weona Smartone (7)
12. Riodini (3)#Rosehill pic.twitter.com/7xd57DW9fq— bet365 AUS (@bet365_aus) October 26, 2022
Thought Private Eye was terrific in the Everest. To the eye he had a good run in the race, but I feel he would’ve been better ridden a pair further back and given the chance to use his electric turn of foot. From the wide gate here that’s exactly what I expect Avdulla to do and he should be charging home at the end of the 1300m, hopefully into the winners stall.
Lost And Running looks the big danger. He chased hard behind Nature Strip first up in The Shorts before a dominant win in the Premiere Stakes. He gets in well at the weights here and will get every hope from the good gate.
They look the two main winning hopes but concede Mazu is not without hope, just prefer him on wet ground. Kementari is capable of running a race at good odds, as is Brutality, who has come back in very good form this prep.
As mentioned above, 9YO Eduardo will lead and is capable of sticking on but feel he’s not racing as well as he has in previous preparations. If he happens to really put the foot down early, Masked Crusader could also be well suited and finish in the money.
Nature Strip Stakes Tip
2. Private Eye – Win ($5.50)
Get our horse racing tips delivered straight to you!
If you need more news, information and tips, head over to our Nature Strip Stakes page for all your punting needs!
*Odds correct at time of writing, courtesy of Dabble.
