By Bren O'Brien
Leading The Everest contender Nature Strip (Nicconi) looks to have escaped unscathed after giving connections a huge scare when he dislodged James McDonald and completed an 850 metre trial on his own at Randwick on Monday.
Three-time Group 1 winner Nature Strip, who suffered a shock last-start defeat in the G3 Concorde S., was one of the first horses selected to run in The Everest, selected by TAB, and has been the long-time favourite for the race having emerged as the dominant sprinter in Australia in 2020.
Monday's Group and Listed Trial was supposed to be a final hitout before he heads to the G2 Premiere S. on October 3, in what is to be his final run before he contests The Everest on October 17.
But while he went around to the start without incident, Nature Strip leapt in the air as the barriers opened and McDonald hit his head, before being dislodged within five metres of the start.
The 6-year-old gelding powered around the track, clear of the remaining horses in the trial, which was won by Libertini (I Am Invincible) in 50.13s.
Watch: Nature Strip trial on the Kensington track
Nature Strip returned himself to his strapper and track rider Stewart Williams after the heat, and appears to have got through the ordeal having done little harm to himself.
"He seems to have pulled up absolutely fine. He finished just in front of the horses with riders on, it’s not like he was 15l clear," Chris Waller stable representative, Charlie Duckworth, said.
"He looked like he was nice and relaxed within himself, if that makes sense. He came back around riderless and he stopped for the strapper, Stewart, who rides him every day and knows him very well. I don't think he's taken any harm from it at all. It's just what we do from here.
"He's in one piece and James is in one piece. I don’t think he did too much and he’ll benefit from the gallop even if it was riderless."
"He's in one piece and James is in one piece. I don’t think he did too much and he’ll benefit from the gallop even if it was riderless." - Charlie Duckworth
Racing NSW Stewards later decided Nature Strip would have to trial again before he is allowed to compete in the Premiere S., something that may upset the plans of Waller and his team.
"He's obviously had a lot of career starts and a lot of public appearances and has never done it before. It's a complete freak accident," Duckworth said.
"I had a good chat to James and he said there was no reason for him to do it. He has just jumped in the air as the barriers have opened. He gave James no indication and he was lovely and relaxed before the trial and so it's a bit of a head scratcher.
"They are all their own characters these horses. He's one with a high-profile, so it makes it all the more interesting and all the more complex."
Despite the mishap, Nature Strip remains a $3.50 favourite for The Everest, ahead of G2 The Shorts winner Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt) and the horse which beat him in the Concorde S., Gytrash (Lope De Vega {Ire}), who are both at $6.
