Jamie Kah to partner The Everest winner Nature Strip again in Group 1 Lightning Stakes
Jockey Jamie Kah’s win on Nature Strip in last year’s Lightning Stakes made her the ‘logical’ choice to ride the star sprinter in this year’s event at Flemington on Saturday week.
Jamie Kah will be back aboard super sprinter Nature Strip in Saturday week’s Group 1 Lightning Stakes at Flemington.
Kah rode Nature Strip to victory in last year’s Lightning Stakes after Covid-related travel restrictions prevented regular rider James McDonald from heading to Melbourne for the race.
Waller said booking Kah to ride Nature Strip was a “logical” decision after riding the powerful galloper in 2021.
McDonald is set to ride against Nature Strip in the 2022 Lightning Stakes.
The jockey rode the son of Nicconi to a game win in the $15m The Everest two starts back before the pair combined for an easy success in the Group 1 VRC Classic at Flemington last November.
Trainer Chris Waller confirmed McDonald will ride Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Home Affairs in the $1m weight-for-age event.
Waller would not be drawn on the reasons for McDonald riding Home Affairs in the Lightning Stakes.
But it is understood the star jockey has confirmed he would ride the exciting colt throughout his campaign, which was likely to take the three-year-old overseas.
“It is disappointing we have to run two horses like this together, but it is also a privilege to have both horses in our care,” Waller said.
“It is likely that James will ride Home Affairs, and without going into the reasons why, it is certainly no reflection on how either horse is going.
“In fact, Nature Strip is clearly the best of the two and Home Affairs needs to continue to improve to get up to Nature Strip’s level.
“I am sure with time, he will and whether that be first-up or later in the preparation, only time will tell.”
Both Nature Strip and Home Affairs have trialled twice in Sydney before arriving in Melbourne.
The top sprinters both won their first trials before finishing second in their respective heats at Rosehill on January 31.
Nature Strip finished a head from Wild Ruler in his latest trial while Home Affairs was 1¾ lengths from Embracer in his 900m hitout.
Waller hoped both Kah and McDonald would be at Flemington to ride their respective mounts in a jumpout down the straight on Friday morning.
Nature Strip is a $2.50 favourite in early Lightning Stakes betting while Home Affairs is a $4.50 third pick.
The Joe Pride-trained Eduardo splits the Waller-trained pair in Lightning Stakes betting at $4.
Eduardo won a Randwick trial on Monday morning with Nash Rawiller in the saddle.
Originally published as Jamie Kah to partner The Everest winner Nature Strip again in Group 1 Lightning Stakes
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