Many say the best horses train themselves, which if you ask me is a load of rubbish, but the fact Darren Weir could take a supremely talented horse with an outstanding record and make him better – all in the space of six-odd weeks – is testament to the Ballarat horseman.
His training performance with Nature Strip at Flemington on Saturday was superb.
Formerly trained by the disgraced Robert Smerdon and then briefly by Robert Hickmott and John Sadler, Nature Strip had started his career strongly with four wins and two seconds from seven starts.
So why is Weir a ‘guru’ for getting him to win first-up for him at Flemington? He’s not. But it’s the manner in which he won that was most impressive.
The three-year-old gelding smashed them. Bolted in. Nearly broke a track record at a 150-year-old racecourse.
Nature Strip’s time of 1:02.26 was 0.11 seconds outside the course record set by Loveyamadly in 2013.
The four-and-a-half length demolition job might have been against an ordinary field, but he still did it carrying 60.5kg on a soft track. Those are some serious wheels.
The coy Weir even knew he had a special horse on his hands.
“I just wanted to see him do it because there’s such a hype on him,” the trainer said after the race.
“He’s been galloping like a good horse at home, but we’ve never let him off the bridle.
“To me he looked to really enjoy it today and he stretched out late. He looked to really quicken when he went.”
Saturday’s win shows how good Darren Weir’s program is. He knows horses. He can read them. His operation is not a factory, as some might suggest, it is custom built, with each horse getting a tailored preparation.
If Weir can continue to weave his magic, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Nature Strip winning Group 1s in the spring.
The Listed Creswick Series Final (1200m) in two weeks at Flemington is the likely next step for Nature Strip.
He should start odds-on and should be winning.
Darren Weir with the 2015 Melbourne Cup (AAP/Julian Smith)
“He gives me the feel of a top-class horse,” jockey Damian Lane said on Saturday. “If he can keep improving and his racing manners keep improving, he can get to a high level.”
That high level could be The Everest in Sydney on October 13 this year. He’s firmed into $21 to win the race after Saturday’s victory.
Filly has a bright future
Speaking of Everest contenders, could Granny Red Shoes be there in October? The Toby Edmonds-trained filly was perhaps the most impressive winner of them all at Doomben on Saturday.
Although she was sent out as a $1.55 favourite, punters had their hearts in their hands when Blake Shinn restrained her at the start and allowed her to sit well behind the field.
But any concerns were quickly erased when Shinn give her one flick of the whip and she rounded the field in a matter of strides. Her 4.3-length win was effortless in the end.
It was also extremely eye-catching, prompting some, including myself, to think she might have some big races to contend when the sun comes out.
“There is the option of going to Melbourne or Sydney for the spring. But she is also a Magic Millions horse so we can look at some of those million dollar races,” Edmonds said on Saturday.
“There are a lot of ways we can go, but most of her owners are in England for Royal Ascot so I will wait until they get back. But she is going to spelling paddock tomorrow (Sunday).”
Gai claims last Group 1 of the season
Punters couldn’t decide which horse to back in the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara at Doomben on Saturday, but it turns out they didn’t have to look past the favourite, Prompt Response ($4.20).
Given a peach of a ride by Blake Shinn, the Gai Waterhouse/Adrian Bott-trained mare bounced back after running second in the 1350m race last year.
She’s been a perennial bridesmaid in big races, but finally got the nod after drawing a good barrier.
After the race, co-trainer Bott was quick to alert slot holders to the stable’s interest in running Prompt Response in the $13 million Everest, while Shinn described her as “a lethal horse”.
“She’s a real genuine Everest contender if she gets a slot,” he said.
I personally think she’d be 60-1 to win The Everest, but she is certainly a tough mare.
Horse to follow
The David Hayes/Tom Dabernig-trained Good ‘n’ Fast might be one to keep an eye on. He was a nice winner in the first at Flemington in just his second start. He was $19 on debut and ran a game second, but over the extra distance of 1400m on Saturday he was more impressive.
Punters certainly saw his potential as he was the short-priced $2.60 elect on Saturday.
After the race Dabernig suggested that the Listed Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday, July 7 is the likely next option.
“We’ve always had a nice opinion of him,” the co-trainer said. “Today can still see h’s very green and took a while to hit top gear, but once he did he won quite comfortably.”
I’d keep him in my blackbook.
Horse to forget
Many suggested Champagne Cuddles could be some kind of boom horse, but all I saw was ‘bust’ on Saturday.
In the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara she didn’t show anything and let punters down who had backed her well at the $6 quote.
She officially finished 11th, some 3.1 lengths off the winner, but that doesn’t paint the full picture. The Bjorn Baker-trained filly was never in it and the margin was flattering.
She might have upside, but I wouldn’t be backing her again until I see her well down in class.
What’s on this Saturday
Rosehill (NSW), Caulfield (VIC), Sunshine Coast (Queensland), Belmont (WA), Morphettville (SA), Darwin (NT).
Without a Fight completed the rare Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double on Tuesday as star jockey Mark Zahra went back-to-back in the big one after…
The race that stops the nation is upon us again. Every horse in the Melbourne Cup has reasons they can win, and reasons they…
Those who want to have a really big collect on Australia’s greatest race, without risking too much, have to look at the exotic bets.
While most of the attention is on Ciaron Maher and David Eustace's Gold Trip, there's no reason why stablemate Future History cannot upstage him.
Champion jockey Damien Oliver is quietly confident his Melbourne Cup mount Alenquer will be passed fit to give him a farewell ride in the…
Melbourne Cup day is here again, and it’s never anything less than exciting. The Cup itself will of course be full of drama and…
