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By Ray Hickson

Their grand finals are still a way off but champion jockey James McDonald is like a kid before Christmas waiting to unwrap turf stars Nature Strip and Zaaki at Randwick on Saturday.

Jockey James McDonald (Pic: Bradley Photos)

The long standing reputation of the world’s highest rated sprinter always makes Nature Strip a drawcard while Zaaki, who only made his Australian debut in April, emerged as a new headliner with a series of devastating wins in the Brisbane winter.

McDonald, speaking on Sky’s Trek To The Everest, is well aware of the expectation surrounding both horses and is hoping they can live up to their status as racing luminaries.

“They’re arguably the two most exciting horses on turf at the moment,’’ McDonald said.

“Especially with their racing styles, there’s never a dull moment. They wear their heart on their sleeve both horses. I’m looking forward to them returning.”

Nature Strip begins another Everest campaign in the Group 3 $160,000 TAB Concorde Stakes (1000m) as a short priced favourite, $1.45 with TAB on Wednesday, as he’s done for the past two springs.

He’s also been beaten in the past two editions of the race, something that McDonald is acutely aware of.

But the premier jockey said everything he’s seen of Nature Strip – he hasn’t been able to ride the gelding due to Covid restrictions - tell him Chris Waller has the horse humming.

“He looks in really good form off his trial. From all reports he’s come through in good order and it looks a really nice race to kick him off in,’’ he said.

“I think on all indications he looks like he’s going as good as ever.

“He’s been very quirky over the few years that Chris has had him. Stuart (Williams), who rides him every day, has done a marvellous job and it’s been a work in progress. It hasn’t happened over night.

“It’s happened over four, five, six preparations but we’re finally seeing an improved Nature Strip. If he can turn up with the racing manners he had in the autumn he’s going to be a force to be reckoned with.”

Those racing manners were on show in the seven-year-old’s only public trial at Rosehill last week in the hands of Glyn Schofield as he cruised to the lead and travelled smoothly.

McDonald said he can only take that on face value but pointed to the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes from the autumn as the example of what a Nature Strip at the top of his game, and manners, looks like.

“He put in a really good preparation in the autumn culminating in the TJ,’’ he said.

“It was the first time ever, since I’ve had anything to do with him, he’s sat outside a leader and used it as the bunny to win a race. I’m hoping he’s going to do the same this prep.

“He looked to do it in a trial but to be fair he was alone and dashing home. Until we get to race speed and race conditions we won’t know but from all reports he’s going as well as he was in that work.”

Zaaki wins at Eagle Farm in June

Zaaki isn’t resuming in his comfort zone in the Group 2 $200,000 Fujitsu General Tramway Stakes (1400m) given we saw him at his best over middle distances, like in his seven length Group 1 Doomben Cup (2000m) win, in the winter.

He debuted for Annabel Neasham with an eye-catching performance in the Doncaster Mile and hasn’t won below 1607m but his burgeoning reputation saw him open favourite, $2.40 on Wednesday, for the Tramway.

“If he returns anything like he performed in Brisbane they will have a job beating him,’’ McDonald said.

“Obviously he has loftier targets in mind and this is a really good stepping stone. Annabel is tickled pink with him at the moment so I’m really looking forward to him.”

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