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Son of Nicconi set for another crack at $15 million sprint
Multiple Group 1 winner Nature Strip (Nicconi) looks set for a third crack at The Everest (1200m) after his trainer Chris Waller confirmed the gelding would run in his slot in the $15 million race at Randwick on October 16.
The son of Nicconi (Bianconi) looked back to his brilliant best when he landed the TJ Smith Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) on April 10 and he will now head to Queensland, with connections eyeing an assault at the Doomben 10,000 (Gr 1, 1200m) on May 15.
"Following his scintillating victory in the TJ Smith last weekend, I felt it was an opportune time to be putting a deal forward to secure him for 2021," Waller said in a press release.
"He has shown me he has gone to another level this autumn with a victory in the Lightning Stakes, going down by a nostril in the Challenge in track-record time and then blowing away his rivals last start at Randwick in the TJ Smith."
Nature Strip has run in The Everest twice, finishing fourth in 2019, while he ran seventh in the 1200 metre sprint in 2020 and managing part-owner Rod Lyons said he is 'ecstatic' Waller wanted Nature Strip to run in his slot in The Everest.
"We take an abundance of joy out of racing Nature Strip and being a part of Chris' team, it was an apt decision to align with his slot for 2021," Lyons said.
"Nature Strip has again showed us his capabilities as Australia's best sprinter this Autumn, and we eagerly await The Everest in October."
