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Superstar sprinter Nature Strip won the VRC Sprint Classic with expected ease and may now get the chance to prove himself on the world stage.
Speed machine Nature Strip might finally get the chance to take his freakish talent abroad next year – potentially to Royal Ascot – after adding a second Darley Classic to his already-bulging big race CV.
Just three weeks after winning a gruelling Everest, the seven-year-old chestnut took just under 69 seconds to show how tough he is when coasting away to Darley success.
With James McDonald told him ride him like it was a track gallop, with Chris Waller down in Melbourne for the day and with his Melbourne-based owners finally able to see their horse run again, Nature Strip ($1.28 fav) cantered away to a 3¼-length victory from Swat’s That ($31) with Bella Nipotina ($14) filling out the placing.
He will head for a well-deserved rest now, with Waller and senior part-owner Rod Lyons suggesting a trip to Royal Ascot was “absolutely” on the agenda for next year.
Asked about the plans for Nature Strip for 2022, Waller said: “We will just go through the basics, give him a holiday which is what he deserves, and find some nice races.”
“Maybe (we might go) overseas if the owners are keen to go. We have planned it twice behind but Covid has put a stop to it, as Covid has put a stop to a lot of things.”
Speaking pre-race on RSN, Lyons said the plan was “absolutely” to head to Royal Ascot next year if the horse came back in good form and if Waller was keen for it to happen.
“Fingers crossed … it is over to Chris, he has got to come back in the early part of the autumn, but if he shows that form that warranted a trip to Royal Ascot, we’ll be going.
“I know all the boys are anxious to go and party over there … that would be a dream.”
Nature Strip coasted down the Flemington straight with McDonald looking after him late.
In doing so he took his career prizemoney to more than $16m – third overall in Australasian history behind champion mare Winx ($26,451,174) and former sprinting star Redzel ($16,444,000).
Almost $8m of Nature Strip’s prizemoney has come in his past two starts, with Saturday’s win being his 19th from 34 starts with the promise of more to come in the autumn.
An emotional Waller, who spent Melbourne Cup day in Sydney, was delighted to be back at Flemington watching Nature Strip demolish the Darley field.
“I am sorry if I was expected to be here on Tuesday, but Covid has been tough for all of Australia,” Waller said.
“He is a very special horse. Longevity is the key to this horse. He has done a brilliant job. His win last start (in The Everest) was unbelievable.
“To bounce off that (and win effortlessly at Flemington) shows he has done an amazing job.”
McDonald shook his head in jest when Waller was asked about an international campaign for Nature Strip next year, eager to stay connected with the horse in Australia.
When asked what it was like to ride a white-hot sprinter like Nature Strip, McDonald said: “It’s incredible. Chis told me before the race to treat it like a track gallop … and away we go.”
“It is a learning curve (with the horse) in every preparation. There is a lot of expectation every time he steps out.”
Originally published as VRC Sprint Classic: Royal Ascot on the cards for Nature Strip after procession at Flemington
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