The six-year-old is set to race in the $750,000 Black Caviar Lightning Stakes at Flemington next weekend, with trainer Chris Waller hoping to improve on last year's performance.

Nature Strip was unplaced in last year's Lightning Stakes, despite starting as the $1.45 favourite.

The star is part-owned by Horsham's Craig Garland, Geoffrey Dumesny, Craig Bennett, Frank Giampaolo, and the late David McCluskey.

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Waller has trusted Jamie Kah to ride the sprinter, replacing regular rider James McDonald after the seasoned hoop elected to stay in Sydney to avoid quarantine hiccups.

Kah will become the ninth jockey to ride Nature Strip and the fifth since Waller took on training responsibilities in February 2019.

"It was obviously not an easy decision to make but there is still a little bit of uncertainty around which we respect," Waller said of McDonald's decision to miss the race.

"Previous winning jockeys of Nature Strip were already obligated to other rides in the race.

"It is our intention that Jamie will ride Nature Strip in a jumpout next Friday at Flemington where both he and September Run will have a nice blow out to complete their preparations for this important first up assignment."

Nature Strip impressed in a trial last week, and is currently second-favourite, at $4.60, in early markets for the Lightning Stakes.

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The star sprinter was also honoured in the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings released recently.

Nature Strip was ranked equal 10^th, narrowly behind Everest winner Classique Legend and Bivouac, who won the Darley Sprint Classic.

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