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By Nick Berney

Chris Waller has played the underdog card ahead of champion sprinter Nature Strip's latest battle against Eduardo in this Saturday’s Group 2 $1 million Bowermans Shorts (1100m).

Trainer Chris Waller

But the race may not be a two horse contest as six of the current confirmed runners in the $15 million TAB Everest lining up in what has been touted as the 'Mini Everest' at Royal Randwick.

Eduardo, who beat Nature Strip in this race last year, has the upper hand, according to Waller, in having a run under his belt and brings a fitness advantage to Saturday’s event.

The pair have met 10 times with Nature Strip holding a 6-4 scoreline but Eduardo has had the upper hand in all three times they've clashed in a race below 1200m in Sydney.

Waller kept his eye on Eduardo’s first-up victory in the Group 3 Concorde Stakes (1000m) and was impressed with what he saw.

“It was great to see him come back as well as he did, and Joe (Pride) has done a great job keeping him up,” he said.

“Nothing’s changed much it’s going to be a really good race. It’s as simple as that.

“Eduardo has the run under his belt, and normally he would have us covered in this race so we might be going in as the underdog on Saturday.”

Nature Strip is now eight, and Eduardo a nine-year-old, and Waller marvels in the longevity of both horses. In Nature Strip's case, he believes the horse has simply matured and improved throughout his career.

He said it is a rare feat for horses with his ability to keep performing at the level he is but the pathway of a sprinter's campaign has been a crucial factor in that longevity.

“I guess with the geldings it’s great because there’s not that pressure to take them off to stud," he said.

“So with the increase in prizemoney, you’ll see the colts perhaps racing a bit longer and you can see first-hand horses are really only maturing when they’re five or six.

"I guess Godolphin have shown it this year with Anamoe, they’ve kept him racing a year longer.

“It’s no surprise that (Nature Strip) is still racing well, and he only really races six or seven times a year and has two holidays in-between.

“I think longevity is the key when you've got a good horse.”

After a successful tour overseas with the champion sprinter winning the UK Group 1 King’s Stand (1006m), Waller insists he has come back well.

There is always the challenge of taking a horse overseas and having them come back in good order but after a strong gallop last Saturday at Rosehill the gelding showed no signs of the trip having any ill effect as he flew past the line in a 1000m hitout.

A pipe opener ahead of next week’s The Shorts for @cwallerracing’s #TABEverest champ Nature Strip and @mcacajamez at Rosehill Gardens. He cruised 1000m in 1:04.81. @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/KaJo1X0yjU

— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) September 10, 2022

“Everything has gone well so far,'' Waller said.

"It was always a challenge with the change of seasons to see how he would cope but if his coat is anything to go by he’s certainly come back in really good shape.

“Physically, he’s not much different to last preparation. No changes to be making a note of, just exactly where we need him to be.

“I wouldn’t say (he's) better than ever, but if he stays the same as last year he'll be as good as ever.”

The nine-time Group 1 winner opened a deserved favourite at $2.70 with TAB on Wednesday for a race that promises to see plenty of change in the TAB Everest market given the top six in the betting are set to clash.

Prior to The Shorts, Nature Strip is the $2.80 TAB Everest favourite.

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