At the third time of asking, Nature Strip has claimed The Everest in an epic at Randwick on Saturday.
The Chris Waller-trained gelding bravely fought off the fast-finishing challengers, with Masked Crusader and Eduardo rounding out the placings.
Jockey James McDonald managed to get across to lead from a wide draw and was never headed after getting to the front.
Take a look at the frantic finish below.
NATURE STRIP WINS THE $15 MILLION EVEREST FOR 2021!@bluebetau pic.twitter.com/Wi80gG0qyJ
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 16, 2021
Jumping at around $3.80, Nature Strip was the pre-race favourite from Eduardo and last year's winner Classique Legend.
In the end, the market had it pretty spot on, with Classique Legend finishing fourth, while punters could get $9 about Masked Crusader.
Nature Strip's win earns connections, and slot holder Chris Waller Racing, $6.2 million, and takes the seven-year-old gelding's career winnings to over $14 million.
Waller had previously trained Nature Strip to finishes of seventh and fourth in the 1200m Sydney Spring Carnival showpiece at Randwick.
"It's a great race, it's just captured the imagination of so many people from inside and outside racing," Waller said.
"When he crossed the line it certainly hit home that it's a big race that's taking over Australia.
"He's got the highest rating for a sprinter in the world for a reason and that gave me some confidence and he probably justified it today."
McDonald said he was positive the horse had a win in it on Saturday.
"I've never woken up in the morning and been so confident with a runner, even though he just got there" McDonald said.
"The man who trains it is just an absolute master. I don't know what he does, he's just a freak of a trainer and the horse is a star and I knew we'd see something really good today.
"Everyone's wiped him off because he's run in it three times and hasn't done any good but it's been different this time around."
