Nature Strip blitzes rivals in King’s Stand romp
Nature Strip (Nicconi) carried the hopes and dreams of Australia on the opening day of Royal Ascot and duly delivered in emphatic fashion to dominate yesterday’s King’s Stand Stakes (Gr 1, 5f) and leave no doubt as to which horse is the world’s best sprinter.
Chris Waller, a trainer to have accomplished so many top level feats in a young yet already illustrious career, described it as “breathtaking”, while James McDonald – troubled just for a moment until he realised the only horse within four and a half lengths of the sprint king was riderless – said it was “scintillating”.
“It means a lot. To be able to perform on the big stage with a horse from another hemisphere, it’s not easy and it’s pretty special. It was a perfect journey with the right horse and I’m honoured to be training Nature Strip,” an emotional Waller said.
“It was a good display, he’s a very good horse and he has been for a very long time. He’s in the twilight of his career but he’s learned to be a racehorse now. He was a tricky horse early on.
“Australia has a huge racing industry and a huge breeding industry and to showcase our breeds and what we do, it’s important. The ratings stack up, he’s the highest rated sprinter in the world, but until you do it on the main stage, it’s another story. It just reminds everybody how strong we are in Australia.”
Victory marked a 137th Group 1 win for Waller, with this the first outside Australia, despite having run close with Brazen Beau (I Am Invincible) who ran second in the 2015 Diamond Jubilee Stakes (Gr 1, 6f) at Royal Ascot.
That tally of elite-level wins includes 25 Group 1 wins with the incomparable Winx (Street Cry) and a Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) victory this season with Verry Elleegant (Zed), and Waller rated this triumph among the best of his achievements.
“It’s right up there,” Waller said. “I’m very lucky to have had many very special moments, but this is right at the top.”
In a race billed as an international faceoff between Nature Strip (7 g ex Strikeline by Desert Sun) and American raider Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) – backed strongly late to assume 15-8 favouritism – the popular seven-year-old entered the course to a chorus of cheers from the large contingent of Australians who had made the journey to Europe’s premier racing carnival.
With a furlong to run still those cheers escalated to jubilant celebrations with 9-4 chance Nature Strip – rated the world’s best sprinter at 124 – running home the most dominant winner of the race since it became a Group 1 contest in 2008, clocking a time of 58.25 seconds, 0.81 seconds shy of Miss Andretti’s (Ihtiram) course record set in the 2007 running of the race.
Twilight Calls (Twilight Son) finished second, with 200-1 shot Acklam Express (Mehmas) a further three-quarters of a length away in third, but the manner of victory for Nature Strip made the minor placegetters inconsequential. Wesley Ward’s Golden Pal, touted as a contender for The Everest (1200m) this October, reared at the start and after making his way through the field he faded to finish over 20 lengths back in last.
“I got a bit of a scare at the 50 (metre mark) when I thought one was coming for me but it had no rider. I thought that was a bit unfair. The way he quickened up the rise and the way he executed his gallop, it was scinitllating,” McDonald said.
“I had an unbelievable feel coming up the rise and I didn’t think another horse could come with him. He’s just a brilliant horse.
“I’ve had an unbelievable year and it’s just the icing on the cake. It’s a dream come true to come here with such good horses and for him to travel through the race (like he did).
“I don’t think he’s ever been better. Before he left for England he was in unbelievable form and Chris knows him like the back of his hand and he’s just prepared him for the day.
“He’s come a long way and you can see him in the mounting yard, he looks like he’s ready to go for the Gold Cup, his demeanour is unbelievable.
“At the four-pole I saw the American off the bridle and I hadn’t even moved. To be here and get a result is unbelievable.”
Connections will now have a decision to make as to whether to set Nature Strip for Saturday’s Platinum Jubilee Stakes (Gr 1, 6f) in a bid to emulate trailblazer Choisir (Danehill Dancer), who put Australians on the Royal Ascot map when the Paul Perry-trained colt completed the double in the sprint features in 2003, but the prowess of yesterday’s performance may have elevated considerations of a return.
Nature Strip was cut to 5-2 for success in the Platinum Jubilee, with Jamie Kah on standby to deputise in the saddle if needed with James McDonald already committed to stablemate Home Affairs (I Am Invincible). With Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Artorius (Flying Artie) also set to run, it could shape up to be a salivating contest between the Australian trio.
“We’ll get him through today. He’s still got jobs to do back in Australia and hopefully he comes through the race well and we can make a decision later in the week,” Waller said.
There was a festival atmosphere on the opening day of the 2022 royal meeting. One enhanced by the return of many Australians to have made the pilgrimage to the mecca of international horseracing, with this renewal marking the ten-year anniversary of the last antipodean-trained winner at Royal Ascot, Black Caviar (Bel Esprit).
Among them was the large gathering of Nature Strip’s owners, including former All Black coach Steve Hansen, 75-year-old Jack van Duuren, who suffers from terminal lung cancer, and Rod Lyons, who reflected on the incredible journey the ownership group had shared, which now includes nine Group 1 victories and an Everest success, for prize-money of over $19 million.
A repeat victory in this year’s The Everest will see him surpass Winx as the highest Australian prize-money earner of all time and Lyons tipped his top hat to evergreen Australian rival Eduardo (Host), with spring targets in the offing.
“I’m so proud to be representing Australia and New Zealand. It’s absolutely surreal. To be at Royal Ascot, the pinnacle of racing, and win a Group 1 race, it doesn’t happen,” Lyons said.
“He’s at the peak of his powers and he’s not finished yet, he’s only had 38 starts. Chris Waller has managed him magnificently and he’s an absolute champion.
“We’ve got to go and win The Everest again, that’s the aim. We saw today he’s one of the best sprinters in the world, and the hardest horse to beat is not here and that’s Eduardo, he’ll be the hardest horse to beat now back home.”
Nature Strip, who was passed in at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale, surpassed the deeds of his Widden Stud sire Nicconi (Bianconi), who finished an unlucky fourth in the 2010 running of the King’s Stand Stakes.
He is one of eight live foals and the second stakes winner from the Group 3-winning mare Strikeline (Desert Sun).