'He’s feeling unbelievable' - wide draw not expected to stop Nature Strip

Nature Strip will have to overcome a wide draw if he is to land back-to-back runnings of The Tab Everest (6.15) at Randwick on Saturday.

The eight-year-old showcased his blistering speed when comfortably winning the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot for Chris Waller but his connections decided against a tilt at Newmarket's Group 1 July Cup.

He has instead been prepared for the world's richest sprint, which is worth almost £8 million, and won a Group 2 at the track last month. Nature Strip will be sent off a short-priced favourite under James McDonald but has been given the widest draw of all in stall 12.

Victory in the Everest would catapult Nature Strip's racetrack earnings by $6.2m (£3.43m) to about $25.26m (£13.96m), which would bring him within sight of Winx's record $26.45m (£14.56m). He could then defend his Champions Sprint title at Flemington on November 5.

Speaking to 7news after riding the world's highest-rated sprinter in trackwork on Thursday, McDonald said: "Couldn’t be happier with him, he’s feeling unbelievable. He’s in really good form. He’s bubbling, he’s ready to explode."

On receiving the widest draw, he added: "I was quite pleased with it actually. I don’t think the barrier is going to be too much of an issue for us."

The Carlton Draught Caulfield Cup (7.15) also takes place on Saturday, although there are no European-trained runners in the line-up this year. However, 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare is among the 18 runners set to go to post in Caulfield.

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