Nature Strip has jumped out flawlessly on Monday morning in a bid to advance towards The Everest.
Nature Strip didn't jump out with his usual speed but got out of the gates with no issues, spending most of the 900m trial at the back end of the field.
There wasn't much asked of the Victorian racehorse of the year as he finished 6th, hitting the line well.
Kaakit Akit wins the first trial @rosehillgardens on Monday with all eyes on how #TABEverest favourite Nature Strip handled the start. He went to the line hard held by @mcacajamez. @tabcomau @7horseracing pic.twitter.com/c8g7BYLuSl
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) September 27, 2020
The sprinter dumped jockey James McDonald in a trial last Monday, with stewards ordering Nature Strip had to trial again before he could head back to the races.
Nature Strip 😮 pic.twitter.com/dyjdWzOPiu
— AJP (@pricey43) September 20, 2020
Owner Rod Lyons spoke to RSN shortly after last weeks trial about the incident.
“It was heart in the mouth stuff, but I’ve just spoken to Chris (Waller). The horse is fine and J Mac (McDonald) is fine,” he said.
“There were no marks, no skin off but this is just five minutes after the race, so they will go over him with a fine toothed comb of course, but he had no bark off him.
“Just totally out of character. We’ll leave it to Chris and the gang to sort out but we’re still on track. Hopefully that’s all the bad luck out of the way.”
Connections are now likely to send the four-time Group one winner to Saturday's Premier Stakes.
Nature Strip drifted from $3 to $4 in the market for The Everest after last weeks trail and has now been backed back into $3.50.
