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Chris Waller-trained son of Nicconi narrowly wins Rosehill trial

The Chris Waller-trained Group 1 winner Nature Strip (Nicconi) scored a narrow victory in a 895 metre barrier trial at Rosehill on Monday morning. 

Under James McDonald, Nature Strip took the lead after 200 metres. Rounding the home turn, he led the field by two lengths and finished, under a tight hold, in a time of 54.24 seconds. Tudor Music (Your Song) settled down behind Nature Strip and went with him in the straight, ranging up on his outside and finished second, beaten a nose. There was another five lengths back to Kariba (Delago Deluxe) in third. 

Nature Strip will now head to the TJ Smith Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) after Waller elected to bypass The Galaxy (Gr 1, 1100m) for which the son of Nicconi (Bianconi) had been allocated top weight. 

Another to trial well on Monday morning was Doncaster Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) contender I Am Superman (Footstepsinthesand) who had been withdrawn from a barrier trial at Randwick last Friday after playing up at the gates. Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, the Irish-bred import won the Ajax Stakes (Gr 2, 1500m) on March 13 and under Kerrin McEvoy, settled towards the rear of the field and then worked home well late on to finish just under two lengths behind Charge (Zoustar) in heat 6 over 895 metres. 

Formerly trained by Chris Waller, Charge is now trained by David Payne following a stint in Singapore. He led from the barriers to win by a length and a half in a time of 54.42 seconds. 

Nature Strip and Tudor Music hit the line together in an 895m trial at @rosehillgardens on Monday with the verdict, narrowly, going to Nature Strip. Kariba finished in third place. @tabcomau @7horseracing @cwallerracing @HickmanRacing pic.twitter.com/ygFOiM3M7q

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) March 28, 2021