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By Ray Hickson

Champion sprinter Nature Strip has ticked another box in his quest for a fifth shot at the TAB Everest with another strong trial performance at Rosehill on Tuesday.

Now we have 10 days or so to wait before we see the nine-year-old under race conditions in the Group 3 $1m Concorde Stakes (1000m), a race that will be pivotal to him gaining a slot in the now $20m race that he won two years ago.

In some ways it was trademark Nature Strip in the 900m heat, he was a shade slowly away then he trucked around them sit on the speed outside Overpass and he kept his head in front for most of the straight.

Nothing was fully tested but if you’re a Nature Strip fan you’d have to think he’s coming up nicely after a short autumn campaign which realised two starts, both unplaced at Group 1 level, then a decent spell.

Overpass is vying for an Everest slot himself and for his first trial back he would have pleased connections.

He probably could have done without the monster on his outside to keep him busy but he did all asked of him and we’ll see him again you’d imagine before the Group 2 $1m The Shorts (1100m) in under four weeks.

Mazu already has a slot and he’ll also trial again before resuming in The Shorts so it was no surprise he was held together just off the speed all the way. Golden Slipper placegetter King’s Gambit has untapped talent and his close third was an encouraging return.

Nature Strip wins a Rosehill trial on August 22

Another Snowden three-year-old Don Corleone won the opening heat in unusual style for him – leading all the way.

He did it quite easily with only a mild shake up early in the straight. The colt contested four of the five Group 1s for two-year-olds last season and placed in two of them and he’s set up nicely to return in the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) next month.

Kovalica is also ready to race after two trials and he does look to have returned in good shape since his Queenlsand Derby win. Loomed as though he might win but was kept under a hold as the winner was to the line.

It won’t surprise if the third of the 1030m inside grass heats proves to be a good form reference.

Group 2 placed Snapback produced a nice piece of work to run out a half length winner in the fastest time of those heats. He did enjoy some nice cover but worked home under a lot less pressure than runner-up Cape Byron.

The latter didn’t give it up when challenged, though under duress, and for an unraced colt his effort was noteworthy.

Third placed Vomo Island has recorded three minors from as many starts and he made some ground from well back with Josh Parr sitting quietly on him.

The other heats over the trip were won by Masked Crusader, who came from last for a narrow win in slow time, and Atomic Forty Seven who has now trialled twice and might be a sleeper in a provincial maiden.

Fightertown was a $1.1 million yearling so the decision to geld him wouldn’t have been done lightly but on the evidence of his trial win it might have been a good one.

It was his second trial this time around and he enjoyed a nice run, always having them covered, to score by almost a length. He’s a four start maiden and wouldn’t surprise if he runs his best race when he’s produced.

A few others of note to keep an eye on after promising trials are General Sensei, Seton Hall and Matusalem.

All the results and replays from Tuesday's Rosehill trials