ATC set to lock in Nature Strip

A deal confirming Nature Strip (Nicconi {Aus}) as the 11th runner in next month's The TAB Everest is expected in the coming days.

Nature Strip's win in the G2 McEwen S. on Saturday in track record time has convinced the Australian Turf Club to secure Nature strip to run in their slot.

“We had an agreement leading into the race, which wasn’t absolute, but if he won he was going to be our horse,” ATC director Phil Morley told Fairfax Media. “The deal is straight down the centre 50-50 with the prizemoney, but it's subject to the usual checks on the horse."

Once Nature Strip passes an inspection early this week, the deal between managing owner Rod Lyons and the ATC and should be signed as soon as Tuesday.

It would mean there is just one slot remaining for the $13 million race, held by Max Whitby and Neil Werrett.

Waller nominates 15 for G1 feature

Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) is one of 15 possible runners for Chris Waller in Saturday's G1 Colgate Optic White Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on Saturday.

The champion mare is looking for her 27th straight victory and it is likely that the majority of her rivals will come from her own stable with D'Argento (So You Think {NZ}), Tom Melbourne (Dylan Thomas {Ire}), Unforgotten (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and Comin' Through (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) among 15 from the Waller army.

VRC Derby winners Ace High (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Prized Icon (More Than Ready {USA}) are also nominated along with Darren Weir's Japanese import Danon Liberty (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn})

It will be the second run of Winx's campaign which is headed towards her winning an unprecedented fourth G1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley in October.

She was last seen winning the G1 Winx S. at Randwick in August.

Boom Time's spring over before it began

G1 Caulfield Cup winner Boom Time (Flying Spur {Aus}) is out for the spring with the recurrence of a tendon injury.

The 7-year-old's campaign for back-to-back Caufield Cups had been progressing well before swelling was discovered in his tendon.

"His tendon is giving him trouble again so he's had to be turned out unfortunately," co-trainer David Hayes told Racing.com. "It's a reoccurrence of the problem one. It was really disappointing because I think he was looking fantastic."

Hayes said it is possible Boom Time could return to racing in the autumn.

2YOs successful at trials

Early-season two-year-olds prevailed against their older rivals at trials at Hawksbury and Wyong on Monday.

One Step, from the first crop of Sidestep (Aus), won a fillies and mares maiden trial over 760m at Hawkesbury for trainer Tommy Yong, edging out the older horses.

She was bought for $10,000 at this year's Scone Yearling Sale and is out of a daughter of multiple Group winner Balmeressa (NZ) (Balmerino {NZ}), a family that also includes the likes of Polanski, Ballroom Babe and Dandy Andy.

Forever Jude (Albrecht {Aus}) romped in by four lengths in his 2&3yo trial at Wyong over 845m.

Taking on four rivals, the Allan Kehoe trained colt took up the early pace and then strolled clear in the final stages.

Out of a half-sister to Group winner Pane in the Glass, he was a $13,000 weanling buy at the 2017 Scone Thoroughbred Sale

Happy Clapper tops Epsom weights

Defending champion Happy Clapper (Teofilo (Ire}) has been allotted top weight in this year's G1 Epsom H with 59.5kg, 2.5kg more than when he won the race last year.

Multiple G1 winner Humidor (NZ) (Teofilo (Ire}) received 59kg for the $1 million race, while Le Romain (Hard Spun {USA}) has 58kg and Hartnell (Authorized {Ire}) 57kg. Current favourite D'Argento (Sou You Think {NZ}) received 53.5kg, two kgs less than fellow four-year old Kementari (Lonhro {Aus}), while the three nominated 3-year-olds Seabrook (Hinchinbrook {Aus}), Master Ash (Sebring {Aus}) and Tavisan (Tavistock {NZ}) are all on the 48kg minimum.

Australian Cup winner Harlem (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB)} tops the weights in the Metropolitan H with 58kg, while Ambitious (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) has 57kg along with Auvray (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) and Mr Moonlight Magic (GB) {Cape Cross (Ire}). Avilius (Pivotal {GB}) is the favourite for the race and has just 52kg.

G1 Sword back on track

G1 winner Sword Of Osman (NZ) (Savabeel {NZ}) makes his return to the track at Ruakaka on Saturday as he plots a path to the G1 2000 Guineas in November.

Sword Of Osman was last seen when seventh in the G1 Sires Produce S at Manawatu in March and has been given a good spell with a strong 3-year-old campaign in mind.

The winner of the G1 Sistema S. will contest the G3 Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders' S. on Saturday,

“He has had two trials to get him ready to return and they have both been pretty good,” trainer Jamie Richards said.

“We were keen to get him in behind a couple and just give him some options. Hopefully he's not going to be just one dimensional. He got back and over-raced a little bit in the trials and that's probably taken the sprint out of him, but we've been pleased with him. "

“We'll just try and ride him quietly again on Saturday."