By Bren O'Brien
Trainer Chris Waller was rapt with the returns of his two sprinting stars at Warwick Farm trials on Tuesday, with G1 VRC Sprint Classic winner Nature Strip (Nicconi) shading The Everest winner Yes Yes Yes (Rubick) over the 900 metres.
Nature Strip, as expected, led the field throughout and stopped the clock at 53.57s, 1.3l clear of White Moss (Mossman), with Yes Yes Yes, in his most significant hitout since his win in The Everest, closing off nicely into third, another 0.2l back.
Waller also had Bondi S. winner Kubrick (Shooting To Win) run fifth, 4.6l off the winner, and Group 1 placegetter Reloaded (Snitzel) finish seventh.
James Cummings' multiple Group 1 winning mare Alizee (Sepoy), finished fourth, 3.4l behind Nature Strip, who showed he had lost none of his customary speed under James McDonald.
The G1 Black Caviar Lightning on February 15 looks an ideal launching point for the last start winner down the Flemington straight.
“It was a very good trial as you would expect with a horse like him,” Waller said.
“It was a very good trial as you would expect with a horse like him." - Chris Waller
"Most of my horses just have very quiet trials and I think he did as well but that is the speed that he has got and the ability he has got. He has a quiet trial and still won.
“We will just gradually make our way down for the Lightning.”
Waller told Racenet he is still weighing up his options.
The trainer was also pleased with Yes Yes Yes, who will likely be targetted at the G1 TJ Smith S. before a possible trip to Royal Ascot later in the year.
Yes Yes Yes will likely be targetted at the G1 TJ Smith S. before a possible trip to Royal Ascot
“He has grown up into a bigger horse which has got to be good and it suggests that he should still be maturing into a stronger 3-year-old than he was in the spring which has got to be a good sign,” he said.
Jockey Nash Rawiller was also taken by the improvement the Rubick colt had made since the spring.
“He has come back a lot stronger and more furnished," he said.
“He has come back a lot stronger and more furnished." - Nash Rawiller
“He has always been something to be reckoned with and I think he is going to be a real powerhouse this time in."
Waller was undecided on where he will target Yes Yes Yes, with no certainty he would head to the Lightning.
Chris Waller
“There is plenty of time for everything but I just want to be realistic of whether he is a 1000 metre horse,” Waller said.
“We have all seen his brilliant 1200 at the highest level but I have to get my head around the thinking; if I want to spark him up so early, or do we continue taking a cautious approach and gradually build throughout the preparation.”
The other first-up option would be the G3 Eskimo Prince S. at Warwick Farm on February 8.
Waller would have also been very happy with the showing of imported stayer Shared Ambition (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire}), who worked home well to finish second in the morning's second trial.
Watch: Shared Ambition (Ire) trial
A winner of five of his six starts, including all three starts for Waller in Australia, Shared Ambition lengthened under Rawiller late to close within 1.3l of trial winner Monsieur Sisu (Elvstroem) over the 1200 metres.
Also working home nicely in that trial was another of Waller's stayers in the G3 Hobart and Launceston Cups winner Eastender (Tickets), to finish fifth, beaten 2.9l.
Watch: Goddess trial
Meanwhile, the country's most in-form 2-year-old stable, Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, look to have another talented juvenile headed to the races after Goddess (Fastnet Rock) made it three straight trial wins in the opening 2-year-old heat of the morning.
The half-sister to Group 1 winner Manuel (Commands) won comfortably by 1.8l in the fastest of the four 2-year-old trials.
Maher and Eustace also won one of the 2-year-old colts trials with the unraced Setanta (Fastnet Rock), the brother to Group 1 winner and Coolmore stallion Merchant Navy.
