Few horses have garnered more press in recent weeks that Nature Strip who staked his claim for a slot in the $13,000,000 The Everest following his dominant win in Saturday's Listed A.R. Creswick Series Final (1200m) at Flemington.
Coming off a facile four and a half-length win over 1100 metres at Flemington on June 23, the 3yo son of Nicconi dominated from the front under Damian Lane to defeat Order Of Command (Squamosa) by one and a half lengths with Egyptian Bullet (Bullet Train) a length and a quarter back in third. (photo Grant Courtney ).
Winning trainer Darren Weir said the odds-on favourite may not have won with the authority of his previous start but was sure to take some improvement.
"He looked to travel a bit strong and that probably took a bit out of him late," Weir said.
"He will come on from that because he had a really good gallop today.
"He's still learning, he's a free-wheeling horse so hopefully it's on to bigger and better things.
"I think everyone is keen to get him in The Everest so hopefully there's some slot holders there that might be interested in taking him on. But if that doesn't happen we will map out a programme for the spring."
Passed in at the 2016 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Golden Grove Stud, Nature Strip advances his record to six wins and two seconds from nine starts with earnings of $506,800.
Bred by Golden Grove, Nature Strip is a half-brother to stakes-winner The Barrister from the high-class, Group III winning Desert Sun (GB) mare Strikeline who has a 2yo sister to Nature Strip who also failed to find a buyer when failing to make her $60,000 reserve at the 2017 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Strikeline has a yearling coly by Shamus Award and was covered by Savabeel last spring.
Nature Strip becomes the 16th stakes-winner for Widden Stud's popular Nicconi who will stand at Widden Stud in 2018 at an increased fee of $24,750.
