Nature Strip (Image: Racing Photos)
The race will take less than a minute, but jockey Mark Zahra expects to know in the first few seconds whether Nature Strip will be vulnerable as the odds-on favourite in Saturday's Group 2 McEwen Stakes at The Valley.
Zahra takes over from the suspended Damian Lane in the 1000-metre race that could clinch Nature Strip a spot in next month's $13 million The Everest and the rider said he had only one query before he takes his first ride on the horse labelled the quickest his trainer Darren Weir has prepared.
Asked on RSN927's Racing Pulse what he made of Nature Strip's inside barrier, Zahra replied: "Probably the worst gate he could have drawn I reckon for the race but apart from Adelaide (Euclase Stakes) he's been pretty good out and I think he's good enough to overcome that if there is any little mishap."
The in-form rider said he was not concerned about the weight of expectation that will be on him as he takes the hot favourite to the gates because he knows what the horse is capable of.
"I've seen enough of him and I've had a quick chat to Johnny Allen - who does a fair bit of trackwork on him - in the sauna the other day and I think I've got a pretty good grasp of what he's like without having ridden him."
WATCH: Nature Strip's last-start win in Adelaide
Zahra will not be complacent no matter how the race turns out.
"Shoals is a very good horse - you can't discount her - but with even luck, as long he steps half-clean then he should be too good for them," Zahra said.
Zahra has eight strong rides in the nine races on the card with plenty of interest shown in his Dato' Tan Chin Nam Stakes ride Ambitious after the former Japanese galloper was twice Group 1-placed at his initial Australian campaign in the autumn.
"I've heard that he's going really well," Zahra said. "These international horses they always seemed to be better after they've had a prep and he looked to trial good the other day and all reports from the camp is that he's come back better than last time."
Asked to nominate his best winning chance outside of Nature Strip, Zahra opted for Land Of Plenty, who tackles the Bendigo Bank Stakes (1200m).
"I am just hoping with the rail true that you can run on by then (Race 7)," he said.
"There looks like there's a bit of speed so I reckon he can sit back with a bit of cover and just chime in around the school and in the straight as you can do at Moonee Valley.
"I reckon he'll be finishing hard."