Darley Sprint Classic 2021: Pro punter preview
Pro punter Trevor Lawson gives us his thoughts on the 2021 Darley Sprint Classic.
The track
The rail is out eight metres. They came wide on Thursday so you’d think they’ll do that again. Nature Strip is the leader here so really, wherever he goes, they’ll follow him.
The speed
Nature Strip will lead this easily. Bella Nippotina, Splintex and Swats That will sit handy, but it’s all about Nature Strip. He’ll dictate it.
Runner by runner
NATURE STRIP has won two out of three this prep and five out of seven down the straight. He leads and dictates here and has lengths on them. Something would simply have to go wrong for him to not win.
NATURE STRIP WINS THE $15 MILLION EVEREST FOR 2021!@bluebetau pic.twitter.com/Wi80gG0qyJ
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 16, 2021
STREETS OF AVALON is an honest horse. but he’s better suited at the 1400 metres. I think he’ll find these a bit too nippy late.
SPLINTEX won at this track and distance two starts back in the Bobbie Lewis, then just missed a place last start. He’ll sit handy and has rough claims.
Splintex comes to Melbourne and snags the Group 2 Bobbie Lewis Quality under @cwilliamsjockey. @mark_mnracing pic.twitter.com/mOtzwXg5kO
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) September 11, 2021
SEPTEMBER RUN has been disappointing this prep. She gets the blinkers for the first time which looks a last-ditch effort to improve her this prep. I’ve rated just off her best, but that still only makes her a very rough chance against Nature Strip.
BELLA NIPOTINA is in career-best form since changing stable, and she’s coming off a career peak rating last start Manikato. Nature Strip is a different equation though. Still, I have her as second pick.
SWATS THAT is racing just fairly. She was caught on the inside last Saturday, but she’s drawn out here and gets Bowman on. Again, she’s only a rough chance.
RANCH HAND put in a good effort down the straight at 1100m when resuming to win the Poseiden. He then had no luck second-up in the Danehill, and made good ground late last week in the Coolmore.
SAMIZDAT and SHAQUERO aren’t good enough to figure here.
Darley Sprint Classic: Final thoughts
No real surprises here. I’ve rated Nature Strip slightly down off The Everest, and more or less agree with the market on the very short price. It’s indeed a barrier trial. The only way he really gets beaten here is if something goes wrong.
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