Chris Waller was offering no excuses following the first-up defeat of Nature Strip in the Lightning Stakes admitting the world champion sprinter was slightly off his game.
Starting a $1.95 favourite, the gelding jumped smartly and made the running but he was under pressure with 200m to go, battling away to finish sixth and just over two lengths from winner Coolangatta.
“He is five to ten per cent off his best,” Waller told Channel 7.
“There is nothing to hide, it’s a shame.
“He’s had a good preparation.”
Waller said the feedback from jockey James Mcdonald was that Nature Strip didn’t enjoy the firm track and that could have contributed to his below par return.
However, the horse will be thoroughly vetted before racing again and Waller says he is unlikely to make another appearance over 1000-metres.
“He felt the ground and maybe he is looking for more rain, that is the only thing we can say at this stage,” Waller said.
“We will do tests to see if everything is right internally.
“I doubt you will see him run over 1000-metres in the autumn, he will go straight to 1200-metres but only if he is 100 per cent.
“The most important thing is he seems to have pulled up well.
“Let’s hope there is another couple of runs in him yet.”
The Lightning Stakes was taken out by the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Coolangatta, who downed the fast-finishing I Wish I Win with the winner’s stablemate Bella Nipotina third.