James Mcdonald gives Nature Strip his seal of approval

James Mcdonald has given Nature Strip his seal of approval after partnering the champion sprinter in a course proper workout at Rosehill.

The $20 million earner stretched his legs on Tuesday morning with McDonald reporting via Chris Waller Racing’s Twitter account that the rising nine-year-old felt great.

“He seems in good form, he’s pretty forward,” McDonald said.

“He didn’t blow a match out and he enjoyed his work, so thumbs up.”

McDonald returns to the Sydney racing scene with five rides at Canterbury on Wednesday having not ridden in his adopted hometown since June 7.

The star hoop has been in Europe where he partnered Australian sprinters Coolangatta and Artorius at Royal Ascot, along with a handful of local horses, before taking a short break from riding.

Despite his seven-week absence, McDonald has already sewn up a fifth successive Sydney jockeys’ premiership, alongside his 14 Group 1 wins for the season.

Nature Strip is among a host of stars trainer Chris Waller is readying for spring returns with the likes of Group 1 winners Lindermann, Fangirl and Zougotcha, who have all trialled recently, likely to be among those first to step out on August 19.

“Most will probably return for the Winx Stakes meeting, some might race the week before, but most of them will resume Winx Stakes day,” Waller said.

Waller also confirmed that Golden Slipper winner Shinzo, who has the Golden Rose as his short-term target, is around a week away from his first trial.