SPRINTERS READY FOR ASCOT

Waller pair ready for Ascot Trip

Trainer Chris Waller gave James Mcdonald the chance to ride both Home Affairs and Nature Strip in their two trials at Rosehill on Tuesday morning with the pair winning their 900m hit outs with comfortable margins.

Despite having to maul through the heavy track at Rosehill Gardens both Home Affairs and Everest winner Nature Strip got into their work with ease with Waller seemingly satisfied with their work. 

“Nature Strip is really good,” Waller said.

“He finished his work off well and James was very happy with him.

“The horse is in really good shape and mentally he has never been better. He is exactly where we need him to be.

“Home Affairs had to labour through very heavy conditions but he’s coming along nicely. He’s such a fast horse and needs that quick ground to get the best out of him.

“But we are still a month away and both horses are tracking along nicely.”

Waller confirmed the next step would be to send the pair down to Melbourne to quarantine and begin final preparations for the trip.

“They will have another couple of pieces of work to tighten them up before they leave,” Waller said.

“We have a massive trip coming up and they will go on the plane carrying a bit of extra weight but they will have done plenty of work.”

Waller maintains Nature Strip and Home Affairs have the temperament to cope with the arduous trip to England.

“I think they are the right two horses to travel to England,” Waller said.

“They are good mates. They are next to each other (in the stables) every day and are good ‘cobbers’, they will keep each other company.

“There is no nervous energy in them, either. Even this morning they just walked around very relaxed after their jumpouts.

“Normally Home Affairs trots back to the stables after a gallop but he just walked back quiet as a lamb.”

Waller confirmed that no final decision has been made on which races his sprinting duo will tackle with a number of options still on the table. 

“We will wait until about two weeks before Royal Ascot to make our final decision,” Waller said.

“Every option is being considered including the July Cup although I would say it is unlikely they will go to Newmarket.”

In the latest betting, Nature Strip is at $4 second favouritism behind American champ Golden Pal ($3.50) for the King’s Stand Stakes while dual Group 1 winner Home Affairs is $6 equal favourite with another American sprinter, Campanelle, for the Platinum Jubilee Stakes.