Is it possible for Nature Strip to continue getting better?
It certainly appears so given how good the champion sprinter has looked in trackwork ahead of Saturday’s $1 million Shorts (1100m) at Randwick.
Chris Waller’s seven-year-old looks in prime condition after a three-month spell following his incredible 4 ½-length triumph in the King’s Stand at Royal Ascot on June 14.
Nature Strip’s confidence right now is sky-high, and he has shown no ill-effects from his English assignment.
Indeed, it appears the defending Everest winner and reigning three-time TJ Smith Stakes champion is ready for yet another dominant spring campaign.
“Very happy with what I saw,” Waller told reporters after an exhibition gallop at Rosehill last weekend, with Saturday’s jockey James McDonald aboard.
“He’s come back in good shape, as everybody can see.
“He’s left the UK in great form and everything’s gone well so far.
“It was always a challenge with the change of seasons to see how he would cope.
“But if his coat is anything to go by, he’s certainly come back in really good shape.”
Waller believes his superstar sprinter – currently ranked the best short-distance horse in the world by Longines – is set to replicate last year’s spring campaign.
That was when Nature Strip saluted in the Concorde Stakes, Everest and Darley Sprint Classic.
“Physically, he’s not much different to last preparation,” Waller said.
“He’s certainly no older, or no changes to make note of.
“He’s just exactly where we need him to be, and that was exactly what James said after his work.”
Nature Strip – the $2 favourite with Ladbrokes on Saturday – is strutting around at the moment because he knows how good he is.
His trackwork sessions have almost seemed effortless the way he is gliding across the surface, and the scary thing for his opponents is that he’s continuing to improve.
“(McDonald) said it was a lovely piece of work. He was so efficient with his action, and it was good to get him on a nice track and get a nice bit of work into him,” Waller said.
All eyes will be on the Nature Strip v Eduardo battle once again in the Shorts.
Nature Strip holds a 6-4 head-to-head advantage over Joe Pride’s star sprinter.
Pride also said his eight-year-old had looked impressive in trackwork after his 2 ½-length victory in the Concorde Stakes over 1000m at Randwick on September 3.
“He’s pulled up really well from the run. It was a pretty ordinary track we raced on last week, but he coped with it really well,” the Sydney trainer told Sky Racing when asked about his $4.20 chance.
“I’m very pleased with him.”
John O’Shea’s reigning The Hunter victor Lost And Running will go in as a $9 winning chance.
The six-year-old appears ready to step up and be a genuine contender for Group 1 titles this spring, after finishing runner-up to Eduardo in the Classique Legend Stakes at Rosehill on October 30 last year.
“He’s probably a bit further forward than last year,” O’Shea said.
“Not that he’ll be winning on Saturday, but he’ll run better.
“As long as he sets a good platform for the rest of spring, we’ll be really happy.”
And Paul Snowden has been delighted at how Mazu has looked in work since his impressive last-start victory in the Doomben 10,000 on May 14.
“Really happy with him. He’s come up really well this preparation and all through his trials now,” he said of his $6.50 winning chance.
“So it’s all about getting back to race day.”
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