'Freak' Nature Strip set for Royal Ascot after stunning third win in TJ Smith

Saturday: Randwick

Top-class Australian sprinter Nature Strip warmed up for an ambitious trip to Royal Ascot this summer with a stunning third win in the TJ Smith Stakes.

The Chris Waller-trained seven-year-old picked up an eighth top-level success of his career with a dominant three-and-a-quarter-length success under James McDonald to emulate fellow sprinting star Chautauqua as a hat-trick hero of the 6f Group 1.

Nature Strip, who also won the world's richest turf race The Everest at Randwick last year, could try to emulate fellow Australian stars such as Black Caviar and Choisir at the royal meeting in June, with a tilt at the King's Stand for which he is a top-priced 8-1 chance, or Platinum Jubilee Stakes could be on the cards before a defence of his Everest crown.

Waller told Racing.com: "I'm sure the main aim is to have him back here for The Everest and if we can shoot over and see our friends at Royal Ascot it would be pretty special.

"Everybody respects Australian racing, especially our sprinters. It would be great to take horses like him and Home Affairs over there and put that flag up pretty high.

"He's got a cult following and most people really appreciate the horse for what he is. He's very special, he puts them under a bit of pressure."

McDonald, who already has a Royal Ascot success to his name following victory in the 2018 Jersey Stakes on Expert Eye, was keen to pay tribute to Nature Strip's achievements on home soil.

"It's just unbelievable. He's won everything in Australia, he's just an incredible horse," he said. "It feels just surreal. I just feel numb because the horse is a marvel. What he's achieved in his career, he's just a freak."

Nature Strip's connections are set to decide early next week if their star will be finally confirmed to be on target for Royal Ascot following his TJ Smith success.

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