Top sprinter Nature Strip on song for The Everest after a brilliant barrier trial win at Rosehill

The Everest favourite Nature Strip tuned up for his return to racing with a brilliant barrier trial win at Rosehill on Thursday

Champion sprinter Nature Strip was outstanding in winning trial at Rosehill on Thursday morning. Picture: AAP Image

Sydney’s super sprinter Nature Strip took the first significant step towards the $15 million The TAB Everest with a typically arrogant barrier trial win at Rosehill Gardens on Thursday morning.

Nature Strip displayed his usual dazzling speed under jockey Glyn Schofield to win his 900m heat by more than six lengths, stopping the clock at 54.94s on the heavy track surface.

James McDonald, Nature Strip’s regular rider, couldn’t partner the $8 million earner in the trial as Rosehill is in a locked down hotspot but he will be back in the saddle for the gelding’s return to racing in the Group 3 $160,000 Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Royal Randwick on September 4.

“It will be good to get back on the big boy next week,” McDonald said.

“Hopefully, this spring we will have an uninterrupted preparation unlike last year when he had a nightmare campaign. Everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong.

Trainer Chris Waller couldn’t be happier with Nature Strip’s barrier trial at Rosehill on Thursday. Picture: Getty Images

“But touch wood everything seems to have gone well for the horse so far this preparation.”

Nature Strip didn’t win during a four-start spring campaign last year including an unplaced effort behind Classique Legend in The Everest.

He also dumped McDonald in a barrier trial incident after a shock first-up loss to Gytrash in the Concorde Stakes.

But Nature Strip was back to his brilliant best last autumn, winning twice at Group 1 level in the Lightning Stakes and TJ Smith Stakes, and he has been the long-time TAB Fixed Odds favourite at $5 for The Everest, run at Royal Randwick on October 16.

Waller took to social media after Thursday morning’s barrier trial win and gave an upbeat report about Nature Strip’s first barrier trial hitout this campaign.

“I was very happy with the trial, he has come back well,” Waller said.

“It was Nature Strip at his best, really. He was in control, he didn’t want to go too fast – it was a nice, routine workout.”

Originally published as Top sprinter Nature Strip on song for The Everest after a brilliant barrier trial win at Rosehill