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By Brad Gray

Nature Strip is a divisive horse. That’s about the only thing everyone can agree on when it comes to the fleet footed four-year-old.

His best asset has always been his speed but his one dimensional style has been his Achilles heel when it comes to performing at the top level. His new trainer Chris Waller knows that as well as anybody and Saturday’s $700,000 G1 Ooh!Media Galaxy (1100m) is the first step of a re-education process to teach the horse to settle.

Trainer Chris Waller (Pic: Bradley Photos)

“We are trying to reinvent Nature Strip by not breaking horse’s hearts that he is beating and not breaking his own heart,” said Waller.

“He can do it in lesser races but he can’t do it in Group One races so we are hoping to see that he can be as effective with a sprint at the finish rather than a sprint in the early and middle part of the race.”

Drawing barrier 10, with Jungle Edge, Ball Of Muscle and Redzel all inside of him, has all but ended Waller’s original plan heading into the race, Nature Strip’s first in Sydney. So it’s onto Plan B.

“It’s an awkward barrier, I was looking forward to getting a soft draw and riding him with some cover. In saying that there is no guarantee that he would have relaxed with cover but it’s the first time right-handed that can often bring a horse back a length or two and get them to switch off, see something different from them,” he said.

“We could also say from the draw, he is not the best of beginners, so he doesn’t have to be rushed as we have done in the last couple of races. He has been half a length slow each time and we have bustled him to be up on the pace. We won’t bustle him, keep him be where he is comfortable and if that’s three wide so be it.”

Since running 10th in the Group One Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield, Nature Strip has turned his engine over with a Randwick trial and although jockey James McDonald looked intent on finding cover, Nature Strip was up to his old tricks, pulling his way to the front. Waller is reluctant to read too much into that though.

“The trial was only (735m) and you just don’t learn anything from trials. He sat in behind in a jumpout, which was good, and then cruised and finished off but again that wasn’t a Group One race. Logic will tell you that if you conserve energy you’ll be stronger on the line,” said Waller.

On the flip side of logic is instinct and it's telling Waller to be wary of Nature Strip’s manners. Waller went through a similar process with Tom Melbourne.

“From my experience, it normally takes them a couple of runs to adapt, that’s what I’m most fearful of, that he’ll just want to charge but we can only try,” he said.

Nature Strip is currently $5 behind Redzel at $4.60 with TAB Fixed Odds.

Nature Strip winning his Randwick trial – March 14

Check the fields, form and replays for Golden Slipper day at Rosehill Gardens.