Written by Georgie Dennis
Nature Strip’s (Nicconi) tilt at The Everest is back on track after the 6-year-old successfully trialled at Rosehill on Monday.
The Chris Waller-trained gelding, who is currently the $3.80 favourite for the $15 million showpiece, appeared at the trials last Monday but reared out of the gates, dropped James McDonald out of the saddle and galloped around riderless.
Stewards ordered Nature Strip to trial again before his next race which is likely to be in the G2 Premiere S. at Randwick on Saturday.
The gelding was given an easy time in his 900-metre hitout at Rosehill, most importantly jumping out of the barriers well and settling towards the back of the field. He gradually improved down the straight and was hard held by McDonald through the line.
“He jumped out with them and unfortunately slipped after his second stride but everything worked out well,’’ McDonald said.
“It was a one-off thing last Monday. He just has to tick that Premiere box on Saturday and I’m sure he will run super.”
Fellow The Everest contender Gytrash (Lope De Vega {Ire}) also featured at the Rosehill trials on Monday as he stepped out in a heat over 1030 metres.
The G2 The Shorts winner jumped and went straight to the lead under Jason Collett and was given a bit of a squeeze in the straight before kicking clear to win by 1.8l ahead of Rammstein (Snitzel).
Gytrash is now likely to head straight into The Everest, which he is currently the third favourite behind Nature Strip and Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt).
There was also two 900 metre 2-year-old trials staged at Rosehill on Monday with the first being won by a Team Hawkes-trained colt by Vinery first-season sire Star Turn named Montana Flash.
The colt was slightly slow out of the gates and settled last in the field but tracked up around the bend and showcased a strong turn of foot to run home and win by 0.5l.
The David Payne-trained Caboteau (So You Think {NZ}) was second with Maven Spirit (Wandjina) from the Edward Cummings stable another 0.1l away in third.
Watch: Montana Flash trial
Montana Flash was purchased by Hawkes Racing for $550,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Glenlogan Park. He is the highest-priced yearling for Star Turn so far and is his second juvenile trial winner in Sydney.
The 2-year-old trial for the fillies was won by the Chris Waller-trained She’s All Class (I Am Invincible).
The daughter of I Am Invincible jumped evenly and went straight to the lead, going all the way to win by 1.3l.
Beep Test (All Too Hard) produced an eye-catching finish as she ran on to score second with the Annabel Neasham-trained Queen Of Wizardry (Not A Single Doubt) another 1.3l away in third.
She’s All Class was purchased by Brae Sokolski for $200,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Yarraman Park and is out of Shirra Nui (Viscount), who has produced five runners for five winners.
Watch: She's All Class trial
Two juvenile jump-outs were held at Cranbourne over 600 metres on Monday morning with the first taken out by a filly by Rosemont Stud resident Starcraft (NZ).
Trained by Robbie Griffiths, the filly jumped quickly from an inside barrier and went to the lead, holding on to score a narrow victory.
The filly is out of placed mare Itzfate (Danzero), who is from the family of G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner Hasahalo (NZ) (Savabeel), and was bred by Rosemont Stud.
Finishing off strongly in the heat to score second was Clash (Snitzel), who was a $120,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase by First Light Racing, Busuttin Racing and Paul Willetts Bloodstock from the draft of Arrowfield Stud. She is out of dual Grade 1 winner Miss Match (Arg) (Indygo Shiner {USA}).
Clash as a yearling
The second juvenile jump-out was won by a Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained colt by champion New Zealand sire Savabeel.
Out of winning French mare Tomoe (Fr) (Shirocco {Ger}), he was bought by First Light Racing, Busuttin Racing and Paul Willetts Bloodstock for NZ$240,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale from the draft of Waikato Stud.
He settled in amongst the pack after being slightly slow out of the gates but tracked up easily to land a narrow win.
