The Everest 2022 barrier draw: Nature Strip draws wide in $15m sprint

Superstar sprinter Nature Strip has maintained his tight grip on favouritism for the $15m The Everest, despite drawing the outside gate at the spectacular barrier draw on Sydney Harbour.

Defending champion Nature Strip got the barrier he wanted for Saturday’s $15m Everest (1200m) at Randwick.

The Chris Waller-trained world champion sprinter drew gate 12 of 12 for the big race and it will allow him to race at his best and be awfully hard to beat once again.

Nature Strip won The Everest last year from barrier 10 and when he’s drawn out wide from the 1200m start at Randwick he gets plenty of time to get into his rhythm and eventually come across most of the field and take up a good position.

An inside gate would have risked him getting stuck in behind horses and being forced two pairs back on the fence.

That’s not going to happen on Saturday and shortly after the spectacular barrier draw on Sydney Harbour on Tuesday night, Nature Strip remained at $1.90 to win the world’s richest race on turf.

Interestingly, there were no real changes to the market after the draw.

Lost And Running, who ran fourth in the Everest last year, drew barrier seven and remained a $7 second favourite and his trainer John O’Shea was happy with the outcome.

“He got beat by four of five in the Premiere Stakes last year and he won this year’s Premiere so he’s probably a four or five-length better horse,” O’Shea said.

The Everest barrier draw was a spectacular success on Sydney Harbour. Picture: Enzo Amato

“I wouldn’t change a thing. That gate is perfect. I didn’t want to draw soft and if you’re going to beat Nature Strip you’ve got to be midfield and coming to the centre (of the track).

“The good horses get to turn up every year and repeat this experience. He will have a tick over (gallop) on Thursday. I’d be surprised if the track gets into the soft range but the things we can have under control are under control.”

A wide draw (10) wasn’t what Masked Crusader supporters wanted.

After he flew home for third last start in the Premiere Stakes two weeks ago his trainer Michael Hawkes said he’d be praying for barrier four or five so he can be closer to Nature Strip when they turn for home.

It will seem that he will again be giving Nature Strip a big head start like he did in 2021 when coming home strongly to almost win.