Waller explains Nature Strip call

Champion trainer Chris Waller says Nature Strip has nothing left to prove on his British assault.

Owner Rod Lyons confirmed to Racing.com on Wednesday night that Nature Strip would not back up in to Sunday’s Group 1 Platinum Jubilee, with Chris Waller explaining further why he won’t saddle up the world’s best sprinter in the race.

“He has come all this way, he has gone to potentially a career-best. He has put all of his heart and soul into the race. Where’s the end, where’s the limit?” Waller told RSN 927

“We specifically targetted the 1000m race. If something went wrong we would have given it a lot more consideration. He’s not finished, he’s still a race horse.

“He is going to get on the plane, leaving England with the most respect you could ever think of.

“It wouldn’t be fair on the horse to back up the horse and not have him at 100 per cent. Maybe he is 100 per cent … but the fact is that it’s a big grey area.”

Waller will still have representation in the Platinum Jubilee, with Coolmore-owned Home Affairs favourite for the race.

James McDonald will ride Home Affairs in the Platinum Jubilee.

The decision means leading Victorian jockey Jamie Kah will be free to continue her European holiday. She had been on standby to ride Nature Strip had they decided to back him up.