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Nature Strip leads another big day for Inglis graduates

4th Sep 2021

The World’s Best Sprinter returned in style, a Ready2Race graduate announced himself a spring star-in-waiting and a pair of lightly raced 5YOs secured deserving first Stakes wins.

That was the tale of the tape of a big 24 hours of black type racing for Inglis graduates and clients as the spring carnival kicks into overdrive.

Champion sprinter Nature Strip (Nicconi) led the way, resuming with an effortless all-the-way victory in today’s G3 Concorde Stakes at Randwick.

Such was the ease of the victory of the Chris Waller-trained 7YO, Nature Strip firmed into a $4.50 TAB outright favourite for the $15m The Everest in six weeks, where he will represent the Waller Racing slot.

Nature Strip, a Premier Yearling Sale offering by his breeder Golden Grove Stud, has now won 17 of his 31 career starts for $8.1m in earnings.

He defeated Easter talent Wild Ruler today in an Inglis graduates’ Stakes quinella.

Winning trainer Chris Waller said: “He’s come back so well, he’s had a trouble-free prep and he looks likes he’s in for a big spring.

“He raced a lot more tractably today, he allowed Wild Ruler and Trekking to be in his sights and I actually thought when he topped the rise and Wild Ruler was still on the bridle that he might come with us but it was great to see him show that acceleration.’’

Nature Strip (pictured) will likely have one more run ahead of The Everest, in the Premiere Stakes at Randwick in a month.

It wasn’t only at Randwick where feature race quinellas were achieved by Inglis graduates.

At Moonee Valley, Express Pass (Gold Yearling Sale) defeated Bella Nipotina (Premier Yearling Sale) in the Listed Chautauqua Stakes.

It was a first Stakes success for the consistent Express Pass, who was already G2 placed behind G1 performer Dalasan in the Danehill Stakes at just his third career start.

His trainer Nick Ryan teamed up with JJ Consultants at the Gold Sale to purchase Express Pass (Wandjina) for just $38,000 from the Blue Gum Farm draft.

The win was his sixth overall and takes his earnings to $330,000.

It continued a strong start to the spring carnival for Blue Gum graduates of Inglis sales, following the win of Bruckner – the 2020 sale-topping colt at Premier – in last weekend’s G3 McNeil Stakes.

Earlier in the Moonee Valley program a Ready2Race graduate announced himself a horse of carnival significance with a barnstorming come-from-behind victory.

Forgot You (Savabeel) is a $330,000 buy for his trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young from the Ohukia Lodge draft at last year’s Inglis Ready2Race Sale and the future looks bright for the untapped 3YO.

In winning, Forgot You surged into the third line of TAB betting for the G1 Victoria Derby at $15, to be run at Flemington on October 30.

Jamie Beatson of Ohukia Lodge will present a six-strong draft at this year’s Ready2Race Sale in October, for which the breeze ups begin in less than a fortnight.

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And yesterday at Wyong the consistent mare More Prophets (Smart Missile) scored a deserving and valuable first black type success when victorious in the Listed Mona Lisa Stakes at Wyong.

The 5YO is trained by John Thompson and raced by Bell River Thoroughbreds and the Ferguson family and clients, having been through the Classic Yearling Sale for Yarraman Park.

It was a fifth career win for More Prophets and took her earnings to almost $300,000.