Nature Strip (Aus)

Multiple Group 1 winner Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}--Strikeline {Aus}, by Desert Sun {GB}), who is best known in the Northern Hemisphere as the winner of the 2022 G1 King's Stand S. at Royal Ascot, has been retired, trainer Chris Waller announced on Saturday. The 9-year-old gelding finished sixth in the G3 Concorde S. at Royal Randwick earlier in the day. Several of his owners, including Ron Lyons, were at the track when Waller made the announcement. "I'm announcing Nature Strip's retirement on behalf of the owners... It's only fitting...

Coolangatta (Aus) (Written Tycoon {Aus}), who won the G1 Black Caviar Lightning S. at Flemington on Saturday, will be pointed toward a start at Royal Ascot, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, the 3-year-old filly has won five of her eight starts, and started this campaign with a third in the G2 Mitty's McEwen S. at Moonee Valley in September. She claimed a first Group 1 crown in the Moir S. there on Sept. 23, but could only manage fifth in the G1 Coolmore...

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...

Charlie Appleby calls it "the Olympics" and few would challenge that claim. Royal Ascot has been too long enmeshed in the fabric of British culture to be anything other than a truly special occasion, but in the Platinum Jubilee year it has even greater allure, a higher purpose. Four of the top nine horses in the World's Best Racehorse Rankings, including the one who sits atop, will be here this week and several more that have yet to reveal themselves as members of that exclusive club. We will know them...

Royal Ascot 2022 will kick off with the cream of the crop, as Shadwell's Baaeed (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) was confirmed Sunday for the meeting's opening G1 Queen Anne S.. William Haggas' unbeaten 4-year-old has six rivals to deal with as he looks to cement his place at the head of the World's Best Racehorse Rankings having got there with an emphatic return win from the re-opposing Real World (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) in the G1 Lockinge S. at Newbury May 14. It hasn't escaped anyone's attentions that he...

Shadwell's brilliant, undefeated Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) was given a mark of 125 and now leads the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings. The bay made his 4-year-old debut in the G1 Al Shaqab Lockinge S. and ran out a 3 1/4-length victor. America's Life Is Good (Into Mischief) and crack sprinter Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) share second at 124, while Speaker's Corner (Street Sense) sits fourth just one point below. It is a four-way tie for fifth at 122, with Hong Kong wunderkind Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia...

After winning the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas at the end of April, Coroebus (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) moved up to a ranking of 121 in the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings. The new mark puts him even with fellow improvers Jackie's Warrior (Maclean's Music), who won the GI Churchill Downs S. on Kentucky Derby Day and G1 Tenno Sho (Spring) scorer Titleholder (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}). They join Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) and Country Grammer (Tonalist) at that rating, which is a five-way tie for fifth in the standings. Leading the list...

Entries from nine countries appear on course for the eight Group 1 races at Royal Ascot, headlined by the world's three highest-rated sprinters: Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) (Australia, 124), Golden Pal (Uncle Mo) (USA, 121) and Home Affairs (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) (Australia, 120). The Australian pair--who may face Golden Pal in the G1 King's Stand S. or contest the G1 Platinum Jubilee S.--are joined by fellow Australian invader Artorius (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) (Anthony & Sam Freedman), set to run on the final day of the meeting....

Australian sprinting king Nature Strip (Aus) (Nicconi {Aus}) won the G1 T J Smith S. in Australia recently and moves to the top of the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings with a mark of 124 shared with GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational S. hero Life Is Good (Into Mischief). Next on the rankings list is Speaker's Corner (Street Sense), the 4 1/2-length victor of the GI Carter H. at 123. Hong Kong superhorse Golden Sixty (Aus) (Medaglia d'Oro) returned to the winner's circle in the G2 Chairman's Trophy S., and...

G1 Cazoo Derby hero Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) has joined dual French Classic winner and G1 Coral-Eclipse hero St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) on top of the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings. Both are now rated 127 after the Godolphin silksbearer won the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), third behind St Mark's Basilica and Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) (121) in the Coral-Eclipse, moved up to a mark of 124 after running second to Adayar in the Goodwood feature. Palace Pier (GB)...

After impressive displays during the Dubai World Cup card, Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) and TDN Rising Star Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper) share the top spot with a 122 ranking in the second edition of the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings for 2021. The rankings are compiled by the Longines World's Best Racehorse Rankings Committee and published by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA). Mishriff, who led the rankings following his victory in the Saudi Cup, switched back to turf and won the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic next time out....