Brilliant sprinter Nature Strip has booked a ticket to the 2019 Brisbane Winter Racing Carnival with a stunning win in a Randwick barrier trial this morning.

Nature Strip, above, is headed to Queensland for the Doomben 10,000 at Doomben. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Nature Strip, above, is headed to Queensland for the Doomben 10,000 at Doomben. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.

Jockey James McDonald had trouble restraining the Chris Waller trained Nature Strip behind the leaders in the early section of the 1045m trial and then let the free striding chestnut have a little bit extra rein approaching the home turn.

Nature Strip strode up outside the leading division under his own steam and went to the line unchallenged to record a three and a quarter lengths win over his nearest rival Gododdin and is now in line to tackle the Group 1 $800,000 Doomben 10,000 (1200m) at Doomben on May 11.

Nature Strip had always shown he had plenty of brilliance under the care of trainer Darren Weir before being transferred to the Waller stable and the four year old was rewarded with a last start nose win in the Group 1 $700,000 OOH!Media Galaxy (1100m) at Rosehill on March 23.

“Full credit to the teams, where he’s come from and where he is now, everyone’s had a go at training him,” Waller said after his Galaxy win.

“I probably get the accolade for winning the Group 1 with him but there’s been a lot of hard work go into him through the years so well done to all those trainers as well.”

“Great work by James McDonald, he’s put a lot of time into the horse at home, on the training tracks and in his trials.”

Nature Strip has been installed as the early $4 favourite at Ladbrokes.com.au for the Doomben 10,000 just ahead the James Cummings trained Osborne Bulls at $4.80 of the dual Everest winner Redzel at $6.

Early betting for the 2019 Doomben 10,000 at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4 Nature Strip, $4.80 Osborne Bulls, $6 Redzel, $7 Zoustyle, $8 Champagne Cuddles, $9 Home Of The Brave, $10 Zousain, $14 Ef Troop, Graff, Sesar, Trekking, Viridine, Winter Bride, $16 Dreamforce, Plague Stone, $20 Le Romain, Menari, $26 Ball Of Muscle, Brave Song, Deprive, Easy Eddie, Encryption, From Within, Lean Mean Machine, Malaguerra, Noble Boy, Outback Barbie, Victorem, $31 or better the rest.

 

About The Author

Mark Mazzaglia

Mark is a passionate journalist with a life-time involvement in the racing industry. He spent many years as an analyst and form expert at the Courier Mail and also has hands-on experience working with some of Queensland’s top trainers.