Nature Strip Out On His Own In Dramatic King's Stand

There was as much drama at the start of the G1 King's Stand S. as there was a lack of it at the end, where Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) and James McDonald emerged triumphant for Australia in a show of power to remind Royal Ascot what it had been missing. With the 15-8 favourite Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) blowing his chance at the start and Khaadem (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) losing his rider there, the Australian maestro's biggest concern was the presence of the latter as he joined him loose late on to keep him company. Always happy leading a trio up the centre as the field broke into groups in this GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint qualifier, the Chris Waller-trained seven-year-old took control with splits of 10.48 and 10.45 and was in his comfort zone from two out to register a ninth group 1 success. Posting a sub-12 second final furlong, he inflicted a 4 1/2-length defeat on Twilight Calls (GB) (Twilight Son {GB}), with the 200-1 shot Acklam Express (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) a head behind in third. “That was incredible. He is just a freak of a horse and has silenced a few critics with that performance, because it was scintillating,” commented McDonald, who had tasted Royal Ascot success in 2018 with Expert Eye (GB). “We had a bit of a scare when I thought one was coming for me and it had no rider on–I thought that was a bit unfair!”

All the signs were that Nature Strip was getting stronger as he matures, winning Randwick's Everest in October, Flemington's G1 Darley Sprint Classic in November, finishing an unlucky runner-up to stablemate Home Affairs (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) in the G1 Black Caviar Lightning back at the latter track in February and taking the Apr. 2 G1 T J Smith S. by storm returning to Randwick before his flight here. Chris Waller was making up for his near miss with Brazen Beau (Aus) in the 2015 G1 Diamond Jubilee S., which was the closest that Australia had come to a win since 2012. “It means a lot,” he said. “We don't get the opportunity very often to come here and take on the English, Irish, French, Americans and even Dubai and Hong Kong runners. To therefore bring a horse here and not only run, but win, is very special. I guess he is in the twilight of his career, but he has learned to be a racehorse.”

“Nature Strip was tricky early on in his career, but he has got better with age and it is an honour to train a horse like him,” he explained. “Australia has a huge racing and breeding industry. To showcase our breeds and what we do is important. Ratings stack up and he is one of the highest-rated horses in the world, but until you do it on the main stage it's another story. It will just remind everybody about how strong we are in Australia.” Of the winner's engagement in Saturday's G1 Platinum Jubilee S., he added, “Nature Strip still has jobs to do in Australia, but we'll see how he comes through this race and no decision will be made today.”

Twilight Calls was putting up a career-best and trainer Henry Candy said, “I am absolutely delighted, what can you say about the winner? How many races has he won? How many millions has he won? So it is no shame to finish second and I thought Twilight Calls ran an absolute cracker. Ryan said there was a slightly messy start and he lost a length which did not help, but it did not make a difference. He might have been a better second, that's all. I would imagine we will go to York and somewhere they go very quick! He loves this fast ground.”

Nigel Tinkler was understandably delighted that Acklam Express had justified his faith and commented, “The winner is very, very good. We thought we'd finish in the first half, although we did not expect to be as close as that. I am delighted. He is just a lovely, lovely horse. York and Goodwood are the targets. He shows a lot of pace and is very quick. He was just a bit too prominent today–we thought we'd come from behind. He has been to Dubai before and the Breeders' Cup is high on the agenda–we can't wait to travel again.”

Nature Strip, who was bred by Golden Grove Stud, was a $90,000 purchase at the 2016 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. His dam is the G3 Ian McEwen Trophy winner Strikeline (Aus) (Desert Sun {GB}), who also produced the Listed Fernhill H. winner The Barrister (Aus) (Star Witness {Aus}) and is a half to the G3 Eclipse S. winner Bashful Girl (Aus) (Perugino).

Tuesday, Ascot, Britain
KING'S STAND S.-G1, £500,000, Ascot, 6-14, 3yo/up, 5fT, :58.25, g/f.
1–NATURE STRIP (AUS), 133, g, 7, by Nicconi (Aus)
1st Dam: Strikeline (Aus) (GSW-Aus, $375,988), by Desert Sun (GB)
2nd Dam: Strike High (Aus), by Pre Emptive Strike
3rd Dam: Flight Hostess (Aus), by Zamazaan (Fr)
(90,000 RNA Ylg '16 INGPRE). O-R Lyons, P Harrison, P Kean, Et al; B-Goldengrove Stud Farm (AUS); T-Chris Waller; J-James McDonald. £283,550. Lifetime Record: Horse of the Year-Aus, 2x Ch. Male Sprinter-Aus, Ch. Turf Male-Aus, Ch. Older Horse-Aus, MG1SW-Aus, 38-21-7-1, $13,381,867. *1/2 to The Barrister (Aus) (Star Witness {Aus}), SW-Aus, $839,172. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Twilight Calls (GB), 133, g, 4, Twilight Son (GB)–Zawiyah (GB), by Invincible Spirit (Ire). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (£26,000 Ylg '19 GOFFPR). O-Cheveley Park Stud; B-James Ortega Bloodstock Ltd (GB); T-Henry Candy. £107,500.
3–Acklam Express (Ire), 133, g, 4, Mehmas (Ire)–York Express (GB), by Vale of York (Ire). (€26,000 Ylg '19 GOFSPT; 55,000gns RNA 2yo '20 TATAHI). O-MPS Racing & M B Spence; B-R Ryan (IRE); T-Nigel Tinkler. £53,800.
Margins: 4HF, HD, HF. Odds: 2.25, 11.00, 200.00.
Also Ran: Mooneista (Ire), Equilateral (GB), Saint Lawrence (Ire), King's Lynn (GB), Man of Promise, Lazuli (Ire), Tis Marvellous (GB), Existent (GB), Arecibo (Fr), Ponntos (Ire), Winter Power (Ire), Logo Hunter (Ire), Golden Pal. DNF: Khaadem (Ire). Scratched: Mondammej (GB). Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

🇦🇺🦘 Drama at the start of the King's Stand Stakes but Nature Strip comes out on top for Australia. pic.twitter.com/tQ10bLpNiZ

— TDN (@theTDN) June 14, 2022