3 minute read

It’s the first step on the pathway to the TAB Everest and Saturday’s Group 3 $160,000 Concorde Stakes (1000m) will tell us plenty about how star sprinter Nature Strip has returned for the spring.

Since the inception of the TAB Everest the Concorde has been a significant pointer towards the $15 million sprint pinnacle and two-time Everest champ Redzel dominated the race winning in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

This year's edition appears at the mercy of Chris Waller's dual TJ Smith Stakes winner but he was defeated in the race 12 months ago.

That was by Gytrash, who will join several other TAB Everest contenders in the second pathway race, the Group 2 The Shorts (1100m) on September 18, before they all converge in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes (1200m) two weeks later.

Let's take an early look at the contenders for the 2021 edition:

Adelong (Brad Widdup): As far as honest sprinters go there aren't too many more honest than this six-year-old mare. She hasn't raced since claiming her first Listed win in the Bob Charley AO Stakes, her seventh win at 1100m, back in June and under the set weights and penalties conditions won't be too badly treated. Adelong is trialling very well and while this is a test for her she'll give another game account.

Handle The Truth (Keith Dryden): The 2019 Kosciuszko winner has a strong first-up record and at 1000m though he hasn't come up against the likes of Nature Strip before. He reportedly performed nicely in a jump out at home last week and he will be strong at the finish if he does line up.

Mo's Crown (Cody Morgan): A newcomer to the Morgan stable, he's another horse eyeing a place in The Kosciuszko and a sound performance in a race like this would be a handy advertisement. That said so far he's only won to a level as high as Benchmark 78 though he chased Big Parade home in an 88 back in December.

Nature Strip (Chris Waller): After watching the big boy trial at Rosehill last week it appears the super sprinter has his eye in. He doesn't need an introduction, really, but he has won $8 million in prizemoney and two Group 1s in the autumn including a second TJ Smith Stakes. He wasn't himself last spring, though, as he was run down by Gytrash in this race and had barrier woes but it appears there's less depth this time around so he'll be expected to make a statement.

September Run (Chris Waller): There's no doubting the talent of his mare, she's a Group 1 winner last spring and was runner-up to Nature Strip in the Lightning first-up in the autumn. It seems so far that she's not quite the same horse in Sydney, she's been to Randwick four times and is yet to be placed. That has to be an anomaly and we'll find out should she take her place.

Standing Bear (Tony Ball): Whether this five-year-old lines up on Saturday remains to be seen, if it's a small field there's some handy prizemoney on offer, but he's outclassed. Winner of a Benchmark 66 at Grafton two starts back and a Wyong Class 1.

Standout (G Ryan & S Alexiou): It's an important preparation for this Group 2 winning entire as he's shown plenty of ability to be competitive at the top level but his form is a bit patchy. Opened his last spring prep with an unlucky fifth behind Classique Legend in The Shorts but didn't fire in two Melbourne starts in the autumn. Loomed to win his trial then conceded ground. Dry tracker, his best sees him in the finish.

Star Boy (Brett Cavanough): Capable sprinter who was runner-up to Dirty Work in a Listed race in May last year. Hasn't raced for just over 12 months and doesn't possess a great first-up record and hasn't been placed in five starts at Randwick. Likely needs this, particularly at Group 3 level but his effort would be interesting from a Kosciuszko point of view.

Trekking (James Cummings): Is he Godolphin's current top seed for the TAB Everest? He's already had two cracks for a third and a fourth so we know his best is good enough. Came off a Brisbane winter last year to be beaten less than a length in a Group 1 over 1000m in Melbourne and he was his usual competitive self without winning up there this winter. No doubt he'll be running on strongly fresh.

Wild Ruler (Peter & Paul Snowden): Arrowfield Sprint winner in the autumn, he disappointed in the Doomben 10,000 when right in the market. So far his best efforts have been on dry tracks and he is unbeaten in four starts at Randwick, plus his first-up record reads three wins and a second from four goes. Impressive trial winner recently at Hawkesbury and a good showing here puts him on the TAB Everest radar.

Wisdom Of Water (Annabel Neasham): Had a boom on him as a young horse and since he's been based in Sydney his form has been mixed though he has three stakes placings from five starts for the new trainer. Tends to race somewhere near the pace and would probably enjoy having a designated speedster engaged so it wouldn't shock if he's in the placings.

Early TAB betting (as at 2pm Monday):
$1.60 Nature Strip
$6 Trekking, Wild Ruler
$8 September Run
$15 Adelong, Standout
$26 Wisdom Of Water
$51 Handle The Truth
$201 Mo's Crown, Star Boy
$301 Standing Bear