Nature Strips Rivals Bare in TJ Smith

World class sprinter Nature Strip (Nicconi-Strikeline, by Desert Sun) made it back-to-back Gr1 TJ Smith wins and firmed into a $4.50 favourite for the $15 million TAB Everest with another devastating display of speed at Randwick on Day 1 of The Championships. The Premier Yearling Sale graduate gave his rivals little chance, stalking the speed before producing his customary devastating turn of foot to secure career his sixteenth victory at start number thirty. Nature Strip defeated fellow Premier Sale yearling Masked Crusader (Toronado-She’s Got Gears, by Invincible Spirit) in a quinella for Inglis-sold graduates. Nature Strip is one of 60 individual Group 1 winners offered through an Inglis sale ring since 2018. Remarkably, Saturday’s win took his career earnings to almost $8 million. Nature Strip (pictured) will now likely head to Brisbane for a winter campaign before “most definitely’’ returning for a third attempt at this year’s The Everest, according to trainer Chris Waller. Nature Strip has now won six Group 1 races, a phenomenal achievement.