The Everest favourite Nature Strip will follow a similar Spring preparation that saw him win the Group 1 $1.25m T J Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick during the 2020 The Championships.
Nature Strip, above, is the early favourite for the 2020 The Everest at Randwick. Photo by Steve Hart.
Nature Strip scored an all the way in the T J Smith Stakes at his third run in from a spell and trainer Chris Waller said he would stick to that timeline with his world class sprinter for the $15m The Everest (1200m) at Randwick on October 17.
“That’s when he usually races at his best,” Waller told AAP.
“There are a couple of Melbourne options but I don’t want the horse to do too much travelling.”
Nature Strip finished fourth in the 2019 The Everest for when he ran in James Harron’s slot but this year he has already been locked in to run in the slot owned by The TAB.
“We are thrilled to have secured Nature Strip for the 2020 TAB Everest,” Tabcorp’s Managing Director of Waging and Media Adam Rytenskild said.
“Each year the race continues to grow in popularity and we are proud to have been involved from the beginning.”
“We went so close with our slot when Santa Ana Lane ran a great second last year and we are confident Nature Strip is the horse to beat this year.
“We look forward to involving our customers along the journey to race day.”
Nature Strip is the early favourite for The Everest at $4.20 with Ladbrokes.com.au ahead of he James Cummings trained Bivouac at $9 while the Queenslander Alligator Blood, brilliant sprinter Classique Legend, Golden Slipper winner Farnan and the Black Caviar Lightning winner Gytash all share the third line of betting at $12.
Early betting for the 2020 The Everest at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.20 Nature Strip, $9 Bivouac, $12 Alligator Blood, Classique Legend, Farnan, Gytrash, $15 Loving Gaby, Rothfire, Santa Ana Lane, $17 Doubtland, $19 Masked Crusader, Tofane, Trekking, $26 Fabergino, Fasika, Greyworm, Rubisaki, $31 or better the rest.
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