Australia: Nature Strip picks up where he left off with victory in The Shorts Stakes

Nature Strip rallied for a comfortable win in Saturday’s Group 2 The Shorts Stakes at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia, his first start in his home country since an emphatic win in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in England in June.

Nature Strip closed from a tracking position to win The Shorts Stakes at 5 1/2 furlongs by a little more than 1 1/4 lengths over Overpass, who closed from off the pace.

The Shorts Stakes, worth $672,000, was a prep for Nature Strip for the $10 million Everest Stakes at six furlongs at Randwick on Oct. 15. An 8-year-old, Nature Strip is the even-money favorite in the future-book for the Everest Stakes, a race in which owners purchase berths and then nominate starters.

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The Australian Horse of the Year for the 2019-2020 season, Nature Strip won the 2021 Everest Stakes, his third appearance in the race. Nature Strip was fourth in 2019 and seventh in 2020.

Trained by Chris Waller, Nature Strip ($3.90) was ridden by James McDonald in The Shorts Stakes.

Earlier on Saturday’s Randwick program, Anamoe ($2.90) won his fifth Group 1 race in the $672,000 George Main Stakes at a mile, a task made slightly easier with the withdrawal of leading contender Zaaki.

Anamoe, ridden by McDonald, stalked the pace and held off Icebath to win by a little more than three-quarters of a length.

Trained by James Cummings for Godolphin Racing, Anamoe is being pointed for the Group 1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley on Oct. 22, Australia’s top weight-for-age race. A start in the Group 1 Might and Power Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Caulfield on Oct. 8 is a possibility.

At Caulfield on Saturday, the New Zealand-bred gelding Callsign Mav ($37) won his first Group 1 race in Australia in the $672,000 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at seven furlongs. A three-time Group 1 winner in New Zealand, Callsign Mav had an easier assignment when future-book favorite I Wish I Win failed to draw into the field from the also-eligible list.

Ridden by Jamie Mott, Callsign Mav closed from fourth in the final three furlongs to win by a neck over the Irish-bred I Am Superman (11-1).

MONDAY PREVIEW

The Light Fandango was highly regarded when she won her debut with a late rally as the 7-5 favorite in a five-furlong maiden race at Grafton Racecourse in Australia on Aug. 29.

The recent win may give The Light Fandango an edge over 12 rivals in a five-furlong handicap at Grafton on Sunday evening across American time zones.

The Light Fandango was 5-1 in early betting as of Saturday, the same price as Minidream, but a slightly higher prices than joint favorites Hidden Trust and Durnstein at 3-1.

All of those runners are returning from layoffs.

Hidden Trust has not started since a second-place finish in a five-furlong handicap at Grafton in February, while Minidream is unraced since a fourth-place finish in a five-furlong handicap at Port Macquarie in May.

Durstein was eighth in a five-furlong handicap at Grafton on July 14, but did win a maiden race nine days earlier at the same course.

The Light Fandango, trained by Stephen Lee, drew post 5, which should work for her stalking style. Brodie Loy takes the mount for the first time, replacing Ryan Maloney who does not ride on Monday.

Graton has an eight-race program beginning at 11 p.m. Eastern or 8 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.