Nature Strip edges Bivouac in Rosehill trial as sprint stars prepare for Lightning Stakes

Nature Strip and Bivouac both showed they are ready for serious autumn assaults after matching motors in a Rosehill trial.

Nature Strip (navy sleeves, red) holds off Bivouac (blue) at the Rosehill trials. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

Speed demons Nature Strip and Bivouac gave an early taste of what shapes as one of the battles of the autumn when the former drew first blood in a star-studded trial at Rosehill on Wednesday.

Chris Waller’s enigmatic sprinter came from off the speed in a 900m trial on the course proper before holding off Godolphin’s star Bivouac to win a heat that also featured gun filly September Run.

Regular jockey James McDonald had Nature Strip camped off the speed and he ambled up to the leaders on the turn before coasting clear to score by a length in 54.94 (last 600m in 34.48).

Nature Strip took control on the turn and held off Bivouac to win the opening trial at @rosehillgardens on Wednesday with Dame Giselle in third. Also in the heat were the likes of September Run, Funstar and Montefilia. @tabcomau @cwallerracing @7horseracing pic.twitter.com/ivylaCM3YE

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) January 26, 2021

Bivouac looked comfortable when tracking Nature Strip into the straight and hit the line under a hold by jockey Rachel King, finishing a further 1¼ lengths of Snowden Racing galloper Dame Giselle.

Both Nature Strip and Bivouac are being set for the The Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington, which is just over three weeks away with the 1000m scamper headlining on February 13.

Bivouac – the dominant winner of the VRC Sprint Classic during the spring – is favourite to repeat his heroics at the track and is $3.20 with TAB.com.au.

Nature Strip (left) Bivouac return to the stalls following the opening trial heat at Rosehill. Picture: Getty Images

Glen Boss has already committed to remaining in Melbourne to ride the talented son of Exceed and Excel.

Nature Strip is on the second line of betting at $4.50 while his stablemate September Run is a $6 chance.

September Run finished 6¼ lengths off Nature Strip when finishing fifth in Wednesday’s hit out.

Waller has already confirmed she will be targeted at both the Lightning and Newmarket Handicap after winning the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington during the spring.

Originally published as Nature Strip edges Bivouac in Rosehill trial as sprint stars prepare for Lightning Stakes