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| Dane Squance |
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Champion sprinter Nature Strip will attempt a third win in Group 1 $3m Darley Champions Sprint at Flemington next month – setting up a possible return clash with his The Everest conqueror.
Trainer Chris Waller released a statement on social media on Wednesday afternoon confirming plans to send Nature Strip to Melbourne for his next start.
This rules out the world's No.1 ranked sprinter lining up in the race named for his 2021 The Everest win, the $3m Nature Strip Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill Gardens on October 29.
Waller said he prefers to wait an extra week and go to the Flemington race during the Melbourne Cup Carnival which Nature Strip won 2019 and again last year.
"Nature Strip has come through his run in the TAB Everest (fourth behind Giga Kick) in great shape," Waller said.
"He was sent to the farm on Sunday where he enjoyed a few days in the paddock and has now returned to the stable nice and bright.
"His next start will be in the Group 1 Darley (Champions) Sprint, a race he was dominant in last year and he has obviously had great success up the straight in recent years.
"This allows us to give him three weeks between runs as we believe that he is more effective with his races spaced.
"Moving forward, spacing his races and giving him a three-race Spring preparation will continue to give him longevity and enable Nature Strip to race on for another year."
TAB fixed odds prices assessors removed Nature Strip from the Nature Strip Stakes with Lost And Running the new favourite at $4.
But Nature Strip firmed to $1.90 favouritism for the Champions Sprint with Giga Kick on the third line of betting at $8 behind The Everest runner-up Private Eye at $6.
Giga Kick's connections have still to confirm the unbeaten three-year-old's program for the rest of the spring which could include the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington on Derby Day or he could go straight to the Champions Sprint.