Nature Strip and Haut Brion Her are both nominated for the Group 2 scamper over 1000m this weekend, but Chris Waller hinted that he’d rather wait with the latter and save her for a fortnight later.
Nature Strip showed he had returned in great form with an impressive victory under Jamie Kah in the Group 1 Lightning at Flemington on February 13, whilst we haven’t seen Haut Brion Her since last campaign when she was a credible fifth in $15 million The Everest and second behind Gytrash in the $1 million Yes Yes Yes Stakes.
“I don’t think she (Haut Brion Her) could beat Nature Strip over 1000m so the owners are happy to wait for the Galaxy at this stage. But she is ready to go if she needs to,” Waller said.
“You’ll see her in the nominations but I spoke to one of the owners and he was keen to wait for the Galaxy.”
Nature Strip was a touch disappointing last preparation, beaten by Gytrash in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes when at the prohibitive quote of $1.45. He then went on to finish fourth in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes before a tiring seventh in The Everest.
“It was everything going wrong more than anything (last preparation),” Waller said.
“But his last run (in the spring) was good.
“He had a few days at the farm in Melbourne and came up the Wednesday after the race, settled in well. He galloped on Saturday morning ahead of the run next week.”
Written by Brenton Le Grand
