Strip teasing for The Everest

JOCKEY of the moment Damian Lane has tipped Nature Strip to stitch up a spot in The Everest when he runs in Saturday’s McEwen Stakes (1000m) at Moonee Valley.

Nature Strip is $7.50 third favourite for The Everest with Ladbrokes, but needs to secure one of the two remaining slots to take his place in the race on October 13.

Others competing for those spots include Kementari ($10) and Pierata ($14), with potential wildcards being the threeyear-olds Zousain ($34) and Graff ($41), who are expected to clash in Saturday’s Run To The Rose (1200m) at Rosehill.

Lane rode a treble at Caulfield on Saturday, but will relinquish the ride on Nature Strip this weekend after incurring a suspension during his winning ride on Humidor in the Group 1 Memsie Stakes. Lane has ridden Nature Strip in his past three wins, with Mark Zahra set to deputise for him in the McEwen.

That has not dimmed Lane’s enthusiasm about Nature Strip’s chances of catching the eyes of remaining slot holders Max Whitby and Neil Werrett and the Australian Turf Club.