Sprinting super star Nature Strip has held his spot at the top of the betting for the $15m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 17 following an effortless win in a 900m barrier trial at Rosehill this morning.
Nature Strip, above, is the favourite for the 2020 The Everest at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Regular rider James McDonald had Nature Strip quickly out of the gates and let him stride up outside the leader Spiritual Pursuit in the early stages.
Nature Strip took over the running on the home turn and went to the line under his own steam to record a three lengths win on the heavy 8 rated Rosehill course proper.
Trainer Chris Waller was more than pleased with Nature Strip’s effort and has penciled in the Group 3 $160,000 Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on September 5 as his Spring Carnival springboard.
“Nature Strip’s come back in great shape & it’s a privilege to be working with these types of horses,” Waller said on twitter.
“He’s a serious racehorse, he’s matured into a Star!!! He’ll have one more trial prior to running in the Concord on the 5th of Sept.”
Nature Strip finished fourth in the 2019 The Everest when he ran in James Harron’s slot but this year he has already been locked in to run in the slot owned by The TAB and is the current $3.50 favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au.
Nature Strip won his fourth Group 1 trophy with his victory in the $1.25m T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick during the 2020 The Championships and was subsequently named the World’s best sprinter in the The LONGINES World’s Best Racehorse Rankings for 3yos and upwards which raced between 1st January 2020 – 5th July 2020.
“Exciting to read that Nature Strip is currently the highest rated sprinter in the most recent worlds best horse rankings,” Waller said on tweeted.
Early betting for the 2020 The Everest at Ladbrokes.com.au: $3.50 Nature Strip, $9 Bivouac, $10 Classique Legend, $11 Alligator Blood, $12 Farnan, $14 Gytrash, $15 Loving Gaby, Rothfire, $17 Masked Crusader, Tofane, $19 Santa Ana Lane, $21 Doubtland, $26 Trekking, Fabergino, Greyworm, Peltzer, Rubisaki, $31 or better the rest.
The post The Everest favourite Nature Strip streets his rivals in Rosehill trial appeared first on HorseRacing.com.au.
