Almost a week on from his Black Caviar Lightning failure, Chris Waller has provided an encouraging update on Nature Strip.
The Hall of Fame trainer on Friday morning reported that the eight-year-old had come through last Saturday’s sixth placing, beaten 2-1/4 lengths by Coolangatta, ‘nice and bright’ and was not displaying any signs of ill-health.
“We can’t find anything wrong with him,” Waller said.
“He’s sound, he’s trotting up free as a bird, his appetite’s good. He was scoped post-race, there’s no signs of any problems from mucous or, occasionally the older horses can have a slight bleed, there’s no sign of that whatsoever.
“We’ve got nothing to hide…he’s nice and bright.”
Waller confirmed Nature Strip would continue on with his campaign with the $3 million Group 1 T J Smith Stakes, a race Nature Strip has won the past three years, his next start.
“At this stage I’d say we’ll leave the Challenge (Stakes) and probably give him a trial and go straight to the TJ,” Waller said.
“(But if there is) any reason to retire him, well, we’ll do it straight away, but there’s no reason at the moment.”
