Nature Strip has won much bigger races than Saturday’s Group 3 Concorde Stakes, but the $1 million race at Randwick looms as one a significant in the context of his career.
The eight-time Group 1 winner and 2021 The Everest champion needs to show trainer Chris Waller that he still has a zest for racing in the 1000-metre event.
Waller has been delighted with what he has seen from Nature Strip at the trials but said how he performs on Saturday will determine whether his racing career continues.
“I’m not saying he’s going to be retired if he doesn’t win, but he needs to run well to continue,” Waller.
“We’re not here just to make up the numbers, we’re here to make sure that he’s back.
“He doesn’t deserve to be going around if he’s not.”
Nature Strip has not won since registering the 22nd win of his 43-start career in The Shorts at Randwick on September 17 last year.
He then finished fourth in The Everest and second in the Champions Sprint at Flemington to round out a spring campaign and was unplaced in both the Black Caviar Lightning and TJ Smith Stakes at his only two starts to date in 2023.
Nature Strip has trialled strongly twice over 900m at Rosehill during August, which has Waller optimistic he will justify their decision to push on and keep alive the team’s hopes of a start in the $20 million The Everest on October 14.
“He’s come back well, he’s trialled well, everybody’s seen how he’s come back,” Waller said.
“Both his trials have been brilliant. We’ve just got positive comments every time he has worked.”
Concorde Stakes nominations were extended after only nine horses entered for the race with Group 1 winners Eduardo, In Secret and Bella Nipotina among Nature Strip’s potential rivals.
