Star sprinters Bivouac and Nature Strip have tuned up for their highly-anticipated clash in the Group One Lightning Stakes with impressive barrier trials at Rosehill.
The pair lined up in the opening 900m heat on Tuesday with Nature Strip landing midfield on jumping before mustering speed and striding up to join the leaders.
He was keen to get on with the job but was kept under a hold by jockey James McDonald to win by a length over Bivouac, who tucked in behind the leading group and stretched out nicely late.
Dame Giselle raced on the speed throughout to finish third, with Chris Waller-trained stablemates September Run and Funstar given quiet trials behind them.
Nature Strip and September Run will head to Melbourne later this week to prepare for what is shaping as a heady edition of the Black Caviar Lightning (1000m) at Flemington on February 13.
September Run is unbeaten at the track, her crowning glory a Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes win down the straight in October.
James Cummings has also earmarked the Lightning as the first-up target for Bivouac, who looks to be the new star on the block after demolishing a Group One field that included Nature Strip to win the VRC Classic in the spring.
