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Trainer Chris Waller isn’t concerned by Nature Strip’s outside draw in Saturday’s The Everest at Randwick and he also gave stablemates Yes Yes Yes and Arcadia Queen’s barriers the tick of approval.
Gates for the $14 million sprint were drawn on Tuesday evening and were beamed onto the Sydney Harbour Bridge south pylon.
Nature Strip was the last of Waller’s trio in the race to have his draw revealed and the son of Nicconi drew widest in barrier 12.
“I think the draw is good,” Waller said of Nature Strip.
“He is not the best of beginners. He can be half a length slow so that gives us the option to gradually find his stride.
“If you draw barrier one and you’re half a length slow, especially in a race like The Everest, straight away someone will grab the fence and take the position.
“That will cause him to over-race to have to follow horses so that will allow Tim Clark to roll across gently and I would guess find the front.
“That way he would be in his own rhythm where he can just run his race without being fired up.”
The draw saw Nature Strip drift out to $26 (now $23) with TAB.com.au to win The Everest.
Stablemate Arcadia Queen firmed from $6 into $5.50 after drawing favourably in barrier three.
“It’s a very good draw for Arcadia Queen,” Waller said.
“I guess she is a little bit vulnerable at 1200m but she will certainly be very strong at the end of the race. Barrier three should allow her to find a nice comfort zone in a midfield position.
“We won’t be dragging her back to be any further back than that and if she wants to settle closer she can.
“Barrier three gives you some options to stay off the fence with two inside her. We will just find a strong rhythm again and make sure she is strong late.”
Arcadia Queen and Yes Yes Yes enjoyed their final track gallops at Rosehill on Wednesday morning.
Yes Yes Yes is the only three-year-old in the race and will run in Chris Waller’s own The Everest slot.
The colt is an $11 chance in the race and will jump from barrier nine.
“With 53kgs on his back he is the lightest weighted horse in the race and the youngest horse in the race so he obviously has the most upside out of all of them,” Waller said.
“It gives Glen Boss the option to find a little bit of cover or get out and going when he needs to with this lightweight.” – Racenet.com.au