Royal Ascot star Nature Strip to miss July Cup as Waller plots Everest defence

King's Stand Stakes winner Nature Strip is favourite with some bookmakers for the July Cup but will not be extending his stay in Britain after entering quarantine ahead of his return to Australia.

The Chris Waller-trained superstar enhanced his status as the world's best sprinter with a devastating performance at Royal Ascot on Tuesday, becoming the highest-rated King's Stand victor on Racing Post Ratings (129) since the race was upgraded to a Group 1 contest in 2008.

Many hoped Nature Strip would also run in Saturday's Platinum Jubilee Stakes, but he missed that race and will not stay in the country for next month's Darly July Cup at Newmarket, a race for which he was quoted as 13-8 favourite with some firms on Monday morning.

Instead, Nature Strip will head home and be primed to defend his crown in The Everest at Randwick in October.

Waller's assistant Charlie Duckworth said: "It's been pretty special for us to travel him over here and for the horse to put in a career-best performance. To do that at Ascot made it that much more special and hopefully he can be up there towards being the highest-rated horse in the world.

"He's obviously the best sprinter in the world, he proved that on Tuesday, but Baaeed is an absolute freak, he's always won with that bit in hand.

"I'm just pleased with how our horse went for us. It's been one of those experiences that money couldn't buy. It's been unbelievable.

"He's already in quarantine now so he's on his way back to go and defend his title in The Everest."

Nature Strip was joined in quarantine by stablemate Home Affairs, who was sent off the 5-2 favourite for the Platinum Jubilee but weakened out of contention to beat home just four of his 23 rivals.

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