Written by Paul Vettise
Powerhouse sprinter Nature Strip (Nicconi) is already a short-priced favourite for the $15 million The Everest and he further fuelled the confidence of his army of supporters with an emphatic display at Tuesday’s Rosehill trials.
The Chris Waller-trained chestnut, who heads The Everest market at $3 ahead of $9 chance Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt), bounded to the front at barrier rise in his 900 metre heat for Group and Listed performers.
He stepped out strongly to string the field out and with rider James McDonald sitting quietly, the 6-year-old cruised through the line to score by 5.5l in 54.69s.
“He jumped away well and his first 100 metres were good and then he steamrolled into it. He is loving his work and doing it with his ears pricked, he’s really enjoying it so that’s the main thing,” McDonald said.
“He’s come back in great order and is executing things well. He’s definitely more relaxed going to the start and he can be fractious in the stalls, but he jumped away well.”
While Nature Strip has proved vulnerable off the back of a spell in the past, that may not be the case this time around, according to his regular partner.
“I said to Chris that he seemed pretty forward to me, even though he’s got a bit to go in his coat,” McDonald said.
“I said to Chris that he seemed pretty forward to me, even though he’s got a bit to go in his coat.” - James McDonald
“He is going to improve off his first-up run as you would expect because he always gets better as the preparations get deeper. I think he is in a better place, that’s for sure.”
Nature Strip hasn’t raced since he blitzed his rivals in the G1 TJ Smith S. at Randwick, having also claimed top honours in the G2 Challenge S. at his previous appearance.
He is pencilled in to resume in the G3 Concorde S. on September 5 and on to the G2 Premiere S. before The Everest.
Nature Strip
Quality mare Fituese (Deep Field) finished a distant second in the trial, but rider Rachel King was more than satisfied with the John Thompson-trained mare who won the Listed Denise’s Joy S. to end her last preparation.
“Obviously, Nature Strip set a really good gallop the whole way and I was happy with my filly. She got herself into a good rhythm and hit the line strongly,” King said.
“She was still on the bridle and she’s naturally a very competitive horse and she did it all very comfortably. She definitely feels like she has filled out a little bit and she is quite lightly-framed, but she is a bit stronger and relaxed.”
Peltzer impresses
Unbeaten 3-year-olds Peltzer (So You Think {NZ}) and Doubtland (Not A Single Doubt) went head to head in a 900 metre open heat and it was the former who led all the way with a bold showing under Kerrin McEvoy.
Doubtland was doing his best work in the closing 100 metres to finish third with the top colts split by Blossom Star (Foxwedge).
Peltzer gave his connections a fright before the trial when he became fractious near the tie-up stalls after shaking his ear muffs loose before order was quickly restored.
“He will run on Saturday week in the G3 San Domenico S. and as long as he measures up he’ll go to the G2 Run To The Rose and then the G1 Golden Rose S.,” trainer Gerald Ryan said.
“He appears to have come back nicely and he’s working well. He’s just got to transfer his late autumn and early winter form into the spring.”
“He’s just got to transfer his late autumn and early winter form into the spring.” – Gerald Ryan
Peltzer’s stablemate Standout (Exceed And Excel), who rose quickly through the ranks last campaign to win the G2 Expressway S. finished third in his heat behind the Hawkes-trained pair of Dirty Work (Written Tycoon) and Rock (Pierro).
Standout dropped out to last before he began to race fiercely and circled the field boldly to momentarily hit the front in the straight before he was run over.
“I’m happy with him and he’ll have another trial in a fortnight’s time. We haven’t decided where we will go with him, but at this stage all is well,” Ryan said.
Spendthrift's Dirty Work showed off his dazzling turn of foot, emerging from a gap with Rock to put space between the field. The fast son of Written Tycoon finished off last campaign with a string of three impressive victories over 1100 metres ensuring he will be an interesting horse to follow in the spring sprints as he steps up in grade.
Watch: Dirty Work trial
Sentimental Miss (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) is a new addition to Waller’s team and she won the open 1000 metre trial from stablemates Djukon (GB) (Jukebox Jury {Ire}) and Finche (GB) (Frankel {GB}).
Rider Hugh Bowman settled Sentimental Miss in the tail and she was pushed out, understandably over the distance as she is a G1 New Zealand Oaks winner, to be beaten home by 0.2l with Glen Boss sitting quietly on Djukon.
He has won up to 2400 metres in Germany and this is his second Australian preparation while Finche, who has finished in behind the major players in two cracks at the G1 Melbourne Cup, found the line well under his own steam .
Watch: Sentimental Miss (NZ) trial
