Huge upset in The Everest as overwhelming favourite Nature Strip beaten

Mark Molyneux

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Huge upset in The Everest as overwhelming favourite Nature Strip beaten image

Nature Strip entered into The Everest as the shortest price favourite in the race’s history and was a popular pick amongst punters when what was thought to be his closest competitor, Lost and Running, was scratched from the field in the morning.

However, Giga Kick came from the clouds to snatch victory and maintain his unbeaten record in Melbourne, finishing just ahead of Private Eye and Mazu.

The world’s richest race on turf saw Nature Strip romp to victory in 2021 and it appeared as though history was going to repeat itself coming into the home straight. But the champion faded late, as Giga Kick – with champion jockey Craig Williams in the saddle – treated the record crowd to an upset victory.

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For young trainer Clayton Douglas, who had only had 24 winners up until Saturday, it was a major achievement, with the gelding joining 2019 winner Yes Yes Yes as the only other three-year-old to beat their older rivals in the sprint.

Giga Kick boasted an impressive recent record having won the Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m) and Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1100m) during his last two starts, although few gave him a chance to defeat the champion sprinter Nature Strip.

Yet that is exactly what he did, as along with Private Eye and Mazu, the trio stormed home in the final hundred metres for a thrilling finish.

Earlier in the day, A Lot More Love claimed the spoils in the first race of a packed 10-card event at Randwick.

Cisco Bay saluted in the second, beating Wicklow Place to come in at a better than 20/1 outsider.

However, order was restored in the Craven Plate when the short-priced favourite Cascadian surged to victory. James McDonald guiding his horse to victory after Zeyrek had earlier attempted to split the field by opening up an eight-lengths lead.

In race four, Stockman took out the St Leger Stakes, with the Joe Pride-trained gelding holding off the likes of Arapaho and Sacramento.

It proved to be third time lucky for Front Page after finally winning The Kosciuszko. Jockey Tyler Schiller stuck to the rails and maintained the lead for the majority of the $2million race.

There was a major shock in the following race though, when rank outsider Rocketing By charged late to pip In The Congo in the Sydney Stakes.

Mark Molyneux

Mark Molyneux Photo

Mark Molyneux is a freelance writer covering the NRL and UFC for Sporting News Australia. He has previously worked in the music industry and as a teacher around the world.