Trainer Chris Waller has indicated a Group I VRC Sprint Classic is the likely next start for Nature Strip following his brave fourth in The Everest.
Nature Strip led the field up in the The Everest before fighting on late to just miss the top three behind eventual winner Yes Yes Yes, with Santa Ana Lane and Trekking rounding out the placings.
Waller was rapt with the performance and will push deeper into the spring carnival with his Group I Moir Stakes winner.
“He set up basically a track record breaking winning time and probably broke the record himself too, that’s how well he went from his wide draw,” Waller told Racing.com on Tuesday morning at the Cox Plate barrier draw.
“We are proud of him and I would say there is a very strong chance he will be back to Melbourne which will be in three weeks in the VRC Sprint Classic on the final day at Flemington.
“There is another option for him as well in Sydney (Redzel Stakes) but I would say the boys would like to have him down here.”
TAB.com.au have Nature Strip at $11 to win the VRC Sprint Classic, which will be run down the Flemington straight on November 9.
The Redzel Stakes are staged a week earlier over 1300m at Waller’s home track at Rosehill. – Racenet.com.au