Champion sprinter Nature Strip retired
Having run down the field in yesterday’s Concorde Stakes (Gr 3, 1000m) at Randwick, legendary sprinter Nature Strip (Nicconi) has been retired by his trainer Chris Waller and connections.
Waller announced the news shortly after the running of the Group 3 sprint, convening a spontaneous press conference to confirm the decision.
Standing alongside Nature Strip’s majority owner Rod Lyons, Waller paid tribute to a horse that has won three T J Smith Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m), the 2021 The Everest (1200m) and also provided Waller with his first Royal Ascot success when landing last year’s King’s Stand Stakes (Gr 1, 5f).
“I’m announcing his retirement on behalf of the owners,” Waller said. “He’s just been an amazing horse and everything he does he does to the best of his ability, even today, he was prepared well, he came to the race sound, he was trialling well.
“There has been no indication that his race ability is not there, but he wasn’t the same horse in the race today. Yes, he jumped well, he travelled nicely, he looked to come up the rise well, but that same acceleration or spark wasn’t there.”
The now nine-year-old son of Nicconi (Bianconi) retires with a record of 22 wins from 44 career starts, with a further nine placings and more than $20.7 million in prize-money.
“It’s a sad day, we knew it would come. All champions come to the end of the road,” Lyons said. “I wish he could have won today and gone on. But he’s been a wonderful horse and taken us to such magnificent heights.
“The important part is that this horse retires healthy and sound. Today he said to us, ‘boys, I have taken you around the world, I have done all I can possibly do for you, c’mon give me a break.”
Lyons revealed that Nature Strip would spend his retirement at the property of Waller’s assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth and his wife, jockey Kathy O’Hara.
“He will have a great home and a great life, he will be a very happy horse,” Lyons said.