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By Ray Hickson

Remarque put his hand up as a potential TAB Everest contender with a gutsy first-up win, Godolphin mare In Secret made an Everest statement with a slashing return but we have seen the last of 2021 hero Nature Strip.

Tyler Schiller and Remarque after the Concorde Stakes. (Pic: Steve Hart)

Trainer Chris Waller announced the $20.7m earner, with three TJ Smith Stakes and a Royal Ascot win alongside his Everest triumph, had run his last race after he finished sixth in an action packed edition of the Group 3 $1m Southern Cross Group Concorde Stakes (1000m).

“He’s been an amazing horse, everything he’s done he’s done to the best of his ability.

“Even today he’s prepared well, he came to the race sound, he’s trialling well, you can all see how well he looks, there’s been no indication that race ability’s not there. But he wasn’t the same horse in the race today.

“He’s a sound horse, he’s a happy horse, and that’s how he’ll retire.”

Nature Strip likely heads off to a retirement paddock with Charlie Duckworth and Kathy O’Hara, who will keep him active with equestrian work.

“He’ll have a great home and a great life, he will be a very happy horse,’’ the gelding’s part-owner Rod Lyons said.

From a TAB Everest perspective the Godolphin camp would be all smiles, even in defeat, with In Secret.

The four-year-old consolidated her position on the fourth line of betting at $11 after she went down by a short head to Remarque with a long head to Bella Nipotina in third.

Eduardo held on for fourth after leading, with jockey Nash Rawiller saying he didn’t feel 100 per cent late.

Winning jockey Tyler Schiller was full of praise for the five-year-old’s performance in a race that wasn’t run to script. Whether he’s an Everest horse remains to be seen.

“He wasn’t in an ideal spot three-deep no cover, but I think he’s the best horse and he’s obviously showed that sitting deep and quickening away from them,’’ he said.

“I think the big question is 1200m. I think a nice gate will help with that.”

Co-trainer Michael Hawkes said Remarque isn’t necessarily being aimed at the TAB Everest but if the horse progresses to the Group 2 $1m The Shorts (1100m) in two weeks and puts his hand up then a slot holder might come calling.

The win moved him to the $15 line in TAB’s all-in market.

“The big one’s there, of course you’re interested,’’ he said.

“If you’re not interested you’re mad. But with us it’s all about our horses. Obviously next step is the Shorts for him and we’re heading in that direction and there’s probably a lot of other people out there looking at him as well.

“If it happens, it happens. But you know what, we’ve got to train the horse and that’s what we’re here to do.”

Meanwhile, TJ Smith Stakes winner I Wish I Win showed he’s on target for the TAB Everest with a close second in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield and will head straight into the $20m race on October 14.

He's $5 second favourite with TAB behind reigning champ Giga Kick ($3.50) with Think About It ($6) on the third line. The only other confirmed runner is Mazu ($15) who is set to have his second trial on Tuesday and resume in The Shorts.

Remarque wins the Concorde Stakes

What the beaten jockeys said:

Zac Lloyd (In Secret): “An enormous run. Couldn’t have asked much more from her first up. Especially over not a suitable trip. The last 100m was phenomenal. She is on track for the preparation. That was awesome.”

Ben Melham (Bella Nipotina): “A really pleasing first up run. She is just looking for a little bit of give in the ground. Once she finds it she will jump out of the ground.”

James McDonald (Nature Strip): “A 1000m is always a little bit sharp for him but he ran below par.”

Nick Heywood (Shelby Sixtysix): “He always takes a couple of runs to get into gear. He didn’t meet them quite well here.”

Nash Rawiller (Eduardo): “He ran a bold race. Wanted to hang again around the home turn. I felt he didn’t really let go like he can. In the last 100m he really shortened up the last 50m. I think he has pulled up OK. His action concerned me. I just explained to the stewards why I sat up on him. I sat up on him because he didn’t fell 100% to me. That is the only reason.

Jason Collett (Rocketing By): “That was far better from him today. He has attacked the line really good over a distance a bit short of his best.”

Rachel King (Casino Lord): “He has run super. He is definitely on the right path to The Kosciuszko.”

Check out the replays and results from Chelmsford Stakes Day at Royal Randwick