Star stablemates Yes Yes Yes and Nature Strip will oppose each other in a barrier trial at Warwick Farm before most likely going on separate paths.
Trainer Chris Waller has overseas ambitions for both with Nature Strip slated to contest the Group One Lightning Stakes in Melbourne first-up with the option to race three-year-old Yes Yes Yes against his own age in Sydney.
Ambitions for both include Royal Ascot in June with Nature Strip earmarked for the King’s Stand Stakes (1000m) and Yes Yes Yes the Diamond Jubilee (1200m) in which the Waller-trained Brazen Beau ran second in 2015.
Waller said he would wait until after Tuesday’s course-proper trial before confirming their first-up targets.
“I’m really happy with how they have come up,” Waller said.
“I know we have had a drought but with modern training facilities they are actually quite forward.
“I haven’t spoken to the owners yet about where they will go. I want to wait until after the trial.”
Nature Strip has won seven races over the straight course at Flemington including the Group One Darley Classic in the spring.
The Group One Lightning is over the Flemington 1000 metres on February 15.
“I see Nature Strip as being a very good straight horse and we are trying to get Yes Yes Yes through to the TJ Smith and overseas.
“Does he (Yes Yes Yes) really need to be beating one of the world’s best sprinters over 1000 metres first-up?
“So, I have a slight leaning to running him in the Eskimo Prince Stakes but that is certainly not to say we won’t be going to the Lightning.”
Yes Yes Yes ran second to Godolphin’s Bivouac in the Group One Golden Rose before winning the $14 million Everest in October.
The Waller-trained Kubrick and Reloaded are among the 10 horses listed for the 900m-heat on Tuesday.
