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By Ray Hickson

Nature Strip and Eduardo - it’s a rivalry that probably doesn’t get the attention it deserves.

For the ninth time in their careers, and just as they did 12 months ago, the star sprinters will face off in Saturday’s Group 2 $500,000 Hyland Race Colours Challenge Stakes (1000m).

Eduardo (inside) downs Nature Strip in the 2021 Challenge Stakes. (Pic: Steve Hart)

They are both previous winners of the race. They’re both accomplished on heavy tracks. They’re both fighters. And, they’re both geldings.

Eduardo’s trainer Joe Pride says rivalries such as the pair have developed, and this one is into its fourth calendar year, are rare and should be celebrated.

“It’s what we don’t see enough of now with all these horses rushed off to stud so quick. Ongoing rivalries that last a long time,’’ Pride said.

“Growing up in my era I was watching horses like Shaftesbury Avenue and Super Impose go at it.

“Some great clashes between those older weight-for-age horses that used to hang around for a long time and we’re seeing that with these two.”

The score is 5-3 to Nature Strip. In their past five clashes they’ve featured in the top three and in the quinella twice.

They are expected to fight out the finish of the Challenge with Nature Strip $1.65 with TAB on Wednesday and Eduardo $2.40.

Interestingly, when they’ve finished one-two Eduardo has come out on top both times. One of those was last year’s Challenge Stakes where he rallied strongly in the last 100m to run Nature Strip down.

While Nature Strip did beat Eduardo home first-up, they ran second and third, behind Home Affairs in the Black Caviar Lightning last month Pride said it’ll be a different test second-up around a bend on a heavy track.

“I don’t know if it helped having that big colt intimidating him on the outside,’’ Pride said.

“Eduardo likes to do the intimidating not the other way around, so it wasn’t quite suitable but I thought he was quite brave.

“At least he’s got a run under his belt. Nature Strip’s the same, he’s got no problems with wet tracks either so it’s probably good terms for them to meet on.”

Chris Waller said he was proud of Nature Strip’s first-up effort, especially considering the trouble he had to overcome early in the race, and he has his sights set on a TJ Smith Stakes threepeat in a month’s time.

The reigning TAB Everest champion came through the race to Waller’s liking and is ready to rumble again.

“It was close to his best run, without being disrespectful to him not winning,’’ he said.

“The way he relaxed, the way he was strong on the line, it’s as good as I have ever seen from him.

“Every race with horses like him, they’ve got to be flying the flag each and every time because they carry the weight of everybody.

“But the TJ seems to fit well with him and to win three would be pretty special for a sprinter.”

Eduardo downs Nature Strip in the 2021 Challenge

Nature Strip is $3.50 favourite with TAB in all-in betting on the TJ Smith, on Day 1 of The Star Championships, with Eduardo at $6.

As for the heavy ground, Waller said that’s of no consequence to Nature Strip who is unbeaten in two starts on heavy tracks including his first TJ Smith in 2020.

“No problem. I’m lucky at the moment to have some good horses that cope with all track conditions because, gee, it makes my job easier,’’ Waller said.

“Also for recovery because some horses cope with it but whether they come out the other side is another story.

“He (Nature Strip) doesn’t worry about any track.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Randwick meeting