End of an era: Champion sprinter Nature Strip retired
An era has ended with Chris Waller announcing the retirement of champion sprinter Nature Strip.
The decision was made almost immediately after the nine-year-old finished down the track in the Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday with Waller convening a spontaneous press conference to confirm the news.
Standing alongside Nature Strip’s majority owner Rod Lyons, Waller paid tribute to a grand horse who at his best was almost unbeatable over sprint journeys winning three TJ Smith Stakes (2021-21-22), the 2021 The Everest and giving the top trainer his first Royal Ascot win in last year’s Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes.
“I’m announcing his retirement on behalf of the owners,” Waller said.
“He’s just been an amazing horse and everything he does he does to the best of his ability, even today, he was prepared well, he came to the race sound, he was trialling well.
“There has been no indication that race ability’s not there, but he wasn’t the same horse in the race today.
“Yes, he jumped well, he travelled nicely, he looked to come up the rise well, but that same acceleration or spark wasn’t there.”
Nature Strip retires as the winner of 22 of his 44 starts along with nine minor placings and more than $20.7 million in prizemoney.
For Lyons, the gelding has been life-changing and his over-riding emotion was one of gratitude, not only for Nature Strip’s achievements but for the fact the horse is going to the paddock happy and sound.
“It’s a sad day, we knew it would come. All champions come to the end of the road,” Lyons said.
“I wish he could have won today and gone on.
“But he’s been a wonderful horse and taken us to such magnificent heights.
“The important part is this horse retires healthy and sound.
“Today he said to us, ‘boys, I have taken you around the world, I have done all I can possibly do for you, c’mon give me a break.”
Lyons confirmed Nature Strip would spend his retirement at the property of Waller’s assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth and his wife, jockey Kathy O’Hara.
“He will have a great home and a great life, he will be a very happy horse,” Lyons said.
More Racing News
Kovalica to relish G1 Doomben Cup trip
The anniversary of Kovalica’s biggest success comes up in the next week and Chris Waller is hoping to celebrate the milestone with another Brisbane Group 1 win. The four-year-old son of Ocean Park will chase his first win since last year’s Queensland Derby when he steps out in this Saturday’s $1 million...
Gold Coast trial to sharpen Magic Time for the Kingsford Smith Cup
Michael Dee is heading to the Gold Coast to trial multiple Group 1 winning mare Magic Time ahead of her first run in Brisbane. The Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m) at Eagle Farm on June 1 is the race trainer Grahame Begg has picked out to run Magic Time in first-up in Brisbane,...
Shinn to make Sydney trip for Think About It trial
Blake Shinn will make the trip to Sydney to partner Think About It in a barrier trial as he prepares for his first race ride on the Everest winner. Sam Clipperton has been the gelding’s regular jockey over the past 15 months, but connections decided to make a change following a disappointing Sydney autumn...
Draw favours Who Dares in The Straight Six
Who Dares has finally lived up to the lofty expectations placed on him winning a Stakes race at Flemington. The Listed Straight Six (1200m) on Saturday fell the way of the heavily supported gelding, prepared at Mornington by Pat Carey and Harris Walker. Sent out the $3.30 favourite under Patrick Moloney, Who Dares scored...
Lloyd keeps his cool as Cindy collects Dark Jewel Classic
A composed ride from Zac Lloyd has helped Fall For Cindy post an invaluable Group Three win, the star apprentice keeping his cool despite having to throw the script out the window shortly after the start. Lloyd had hoped to settle the John O’Shea-trained mare in the first half of the field and...
The Map lands a Melbourne Cup berth
Six months of planning has paid off with The Map earning a ‘Golden Ticket’ into the Melbourne Cup. The Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (2800m) at Flemington on Saturday grants the winner a ballot exemption into the Group 1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) in November. Trainers Dan Clarken and Oopy Macgillivray planned their assault on Saturday’s...
Bella Nipotina beats I Wish I Win in the Doomben 10,000
Ciaron Maher has been left to marvel at the tenacity of bonny mare Bella Nipotina, who has overcome a busy travel schedule to upset I Wish I Win in the $1.5 million Doomben 10,000. Kicking off her preparation in Melbourne, Bella Nipotina was narrowly edged out by Chain Of Lightning in the T J...
Opal Ridge signals Queensland carnival intentions in Ortensia Stakes
A relieved Luke Pepper will press on to the Queensland winter carnival with renewed confidence after an underdone Opal Ridge maintained her perfect home track record with a classy victory in the Ortensia Stakes at Scone. Pepper admitted to some pre-race anxiety given Opal Ridge hadn’t raced since November, but he banked on...
Shall Samuel and Twain meet in the Melbourne Cup?
To breed one Melbourne Cup runner is an achievement, but to have two in the same race from the one family is something not many can boast. But that’s the dream Gail Temperton and Stan Alexander are hoping to realise this year and Samuel Langhorne can take a giant step towards making...
‘Cheeky’ Attractable ready to roll in the Scone Cup
Attractable has been keeping trainer Sara Ryan on her toes in the lead-up to the Scone Cup and when he is causing mischief on the training track, it usually equates to a bold race day performance. “He’s very much a confidence horse. He thrives off being confident and happy and you know when...