Nature Strip appears to have lost his crown as the world’s fastest horse after failing to place in the group 1 Black Caviar Lightning, won by Coolangatta at Flemington on Saturday.
The eight-year-old champion bounced and was scrubbed up to the lead by James McDonald, but was swamped with 100 metres to go, with Coolangatta rushing past under Jamie Kah, and I Wish I Win closing late to grab second from Bella Nipotina and September Run.
Coolangatta outsprints her rivals in the Lightning as Nature Strip fails to run top four.Credit:Racing Photos
Nature Strip failed to finish in the top four for the first time since the 2020 Everest, and has now gone three races in a row without a win, his longest losing streak since the 2020 spring.
He underlined his global status at Royal Ascot last June when dominant in the King Stand Stakes, but has failed to return to those lofty heights since.
McDonald had little explanation for the performance, simply telling reporters: “He tried hard”.
The Lightning was Coolangatta’s second win at group 1 level, reinforcing her win in the Moir Stakes in September, and co-trainer David Eustace said the owners would now plot a path to the UK.
“From here the dream would be Royal Ascot for everyone involved,” Eustace said.
“She’s shown she likes the straight and I think everyone in the group would be keen to go there.
“Where she goes next, I’m not sure, but ultimately, we’d love to give that a crack.”
Her record is terrific given she’s only three. She was a Magic Millions Classic winner as a two-year-old, a Golden Slipper placegetter, and is now a two-time weight-for-age group 1 winner against the older horses. The last filly to win the Lightning was Regimental Gal in 2004.
Part-owner John O’Neill plants a kiss on winning jockey Jamie Kah.Credit:Racing Photos
Even Kah was surprised Coolangatta mangaged to knock off Nature Strip, a horse she first won this race on in 2021.
“I thought she would run second today honestly, I didn’t think she would be able to beat Nature Strip,” Kah said.
“The race did shape out for her, there was pressure early, but she is half the size of him, and she just does things she shouldn’t do, she is just an amazing horse.”
I Wish I Win, meanwhile, put the writing on the wall for a huge autumn campaign.
“Great pipe opener; bring on the Newmarket,” jockey Luke Nolen said post-race.
Roch ‘N’ Horse was a late scratching on race morning due to cellulitis in her leg, but trainer Mike Moroney reported she could line up in next week’s Oakleigh Plate and still be ready for the Newmarket second up.
Earlier, Annavisto won the Tony Bourke Memorial, named in honour of The Age’s former chief racing writer, who passed away last week.
Co-trainer Michael Kent jnr said the stable would aim her at the 1500-metre Coolmore Classic at Rosehill in three weeks’ time.
Three-year-old Elliptical was also a stunning winner at Flemington on Saturday, resuming to win the CS Hayes Stakes en route towards the Australian Guineas.
The son of Dundeel placed in a Caulfield Guineas and a Spring Champion Stakes in the spring, and co-trainer Anthony Freedman said he was pleased to see the colt finally find the winner’s stall.
“He hadn’t won a race in a while,” Freedman said.
“We really just wanted him to be strong late and if we won that was great. So to get up and do it points to good things.”
