NATURE STRIP DESTROYS HIS RIVALS IN THE 2022 KINGS STAND STAKES AT ROYAL ASCOT
‘Demolition job’: Aussie freak blows the world away in famous win
An Australian miracle horse has politely told the world to shut up after a history-making win that has dropped jaws around the world.
That’s one for Australia.
Aussie sprinter Nature Strip is being labelled a “freak of a horse” on the global stage after making the long journey worthwhile by winning the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes on the first day of the Royal Ascot meeting on Wednesday morning (AEST).
The Chris Waller-trained star’s sublime performance took place with the meeting’s most notable supporter Queen Elizabeth II absent.
As she watched on television from Windsor Castle, Prince Charles and his wife Camilla stood in.
It was the first Royal Ascot since 2019 to greet a full house made up largely of top-hatted and tail-coated men and women dressed in the latest fashion, after two years of crowd restrictions due to Covid.
The pandemic meant Nature Strip and Waller had waited a long time to get an opportunity to prove the horse is the world’s best sprinter on the world stage - now they’ve silenced any doubters.
It was supposed to be a shoot-out between America’s best sprinter Golden Pal - who started favourite - and the Aussie, but it instead turned into a massacre.
The seven-year-old blew them away to win by more than four lengths in a historic victory.
It was the first time an Aussie has won the £500,000 ($870,000), 1000m race since Scenic Blast in 2009.
In a race that included the best sprinters in the UK and Europe, there is no argument that Nature Strip is the undisputed king.
“He’s an absolute freak of a horse,” said McDonald.
“I thought how has one come with him. I didn’t know it was a loose horse. That riderless horse (Khadeem) gave me a little fright!”
Waller was delighted he had confirmed he deserved to be rated among the best horses in the world.
“It means a lot,” said Waller.
“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. It was breathtaking.”
Waller said he would decide later in the week if Nature Strip would run in the Platinum Jubilee Stakes, although he already has Home Affairs in it.
However, he later went back on that comment and said he will now take Nature Strip back home to Australia.
The world was blown away by the performance.
13 июн 2022
