There have not been too many horses that have lowered the colours of champion sprinter Nature Strip more than once.
Eduardo has defeated the champ on three occasions while South Australian sprinter Gytrash got the better of Nature Strip twice.
One horse that inflicted Nature Strip’s first two defeats is set to run at Sandown on Saturday in the Stow Storage Solutions Handicap (1000m).
Sam’s Image, when trained by Peter Morgan, defeated Nature Strip at the sprinters second start at Moonee Valley in October 2017 and again at Caulfield six months later.
Both rising nine-year-olds, Nature Strip has gone on to amass more than $20 million in prize money while Sam’s Image has banked a little over $560,000.
Sam’s Image’s trainer John Sadler said it was amazing how the two horses’ careers have gone on different paths.
Sadler trained Nature Strip in one of those early defeats before the gelding was transferred to Darren Weir and subsequently to Chris Waller.
“He (Sam’s Image) beat Nature Strip once when Robert (Smerdon) had him and he beat him once when I had him,” Sadler said.
“He should not have. Nature Strip was an absolute certainty beaten that day at Caulfield.”
Like Nature Strip, Sam’s Image has not been overly taxed and will on Saturday be lining up for start number 46 that has netted five wins and 11 minor placings.
Sadler said bad feet have curtailed Sam’s Image’s career where he needs to race on tracks that have some cut in them.
“The key to him has been not racing him on firm ground. It destroys him,” Sadler said.
“He hasn’t got great feet. It’s not like he needs a heavy track, he just needs the cut out of it which you’re likely to get at this time of the year.
“It was perfect at Flemington for him the other day.”
Sam’s Image finished second over 1100m at Flemington on May 20 where he lumped 61.5kg in the benchmark 70 contest.
On Saturday he will drop to 51kg after the claim for West Australian apprentice Luke Campbell.
“Back to 1000 metres won’t be a problem and a smaller field suits him,” Sadler said.
“Starry Legend, who probably has more speed than him, they sat off them the other day and he ran his best race since leaving me.
“It was a good turn around for him and I would expect they will ride him the same way, so Sam’s Image will be ridden to lead, and we’ll see what happens from there.
“Even though he’s well out of the handicap, he won’t know himself with that postage stamp.”
