Nicconi's Nature Strip Romps Darley Sprint Classic

Mark Smith - Saturday November 9

Nature Strip won a lot of new friends with his fighting fourth in The Everest and everyone is aware of his love for the straight but nothing could prepare for the performance of the glorious looking son of Nicconi in Saturday’s $2 million Group 1 Darley Sprint Classic (1200m) at Flemington.

Simply put, Nature Strip jumped to the front from barrier rise for James McDonald and was still on the bit at the halfway mark while the chasing pack had trouble keeping up.All too easy for Nature Strip - image Grant Courtney

With a minimum of urging by McDonald, Nature Strip cleared away to defeat the 3yo filly Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible) by three and a quarter lengths with In Her Time (Time Thief) back in third ahead of Alizee and the favourite Santa Ana Lane who was never really a factor.

“I’m thrilled for the horse and thrilled for the connections, he has gone to a new level this preparation, he has had only one real disappointment and that was at his first start, apart from that he’s been faultless, he’s a star,” McDonald enthused.

“He was airborne, floating across the ground, I slipped him a bit more rein at the 300m and I looked at the big screen and thought oh no it felt like I was six in front and he was still going through his gears and he ran it out so strongly.

It was the third Group 1 win for the 5yo gelding after ATC Galaxy and MVRC AJ Moir Stakes advancing his record to 12 wins and two seconds with earnings of $3,981,785.

Winning trainer Chris Waller said the owners are keen on Royal Ascot next year.

Advertisement

“All preparation he has shown how well he is going, he’s a very happy horse and that takes them a long way.

“We’ve been fortunate enough to takeover a very fast horse and we’ve added a bit of our own fine tuning.

“I’m not to sure where he will have his next starts but I know the team are keen to take him to Royal Ascot in June but there will certainly be a few races before then.”

Passed in at the 2016 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Golden Grove Stud, Nature Strip  is a half-brother to stakes-winner The Barrister from Group III winning Desert Sun (GB) mare Strikeline, a $500,000 earner who was a 6-time winner including the Group III Ian McEwen Trophy at Moonee Valley, which is the same race in which her son set the track record.

After missing to Savabeel in 2017, Strikeline is now in foal to Waikato Stud's champion son of Zabeel on a 28th of December cover.

Advertisment

Race Result - Darley Sprint Classic Gr1 1200m

Flemington Track: Good(4) Time: 1:09.23
1
Nature Strip
- 5g Nicconi (AUS) x Strikeline (AUS) (Desert Sun (GB))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 58.5
Nicconi
2
3.3
Loving Gaby
- 3f I Am Invincible (AUS) x Maastricht (NZ) (Mastercraftsman (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Craig Williams 51.5
I Am Invincible
Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale $650,000
Seller: Kia Ora Stud, Scone
Buyer: TFI Fillies Partnership
3
4.6
In Her Time
- 7m Time Thief (AUS) x Hell It's Hot (AUS) (Zeditave (AUS))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: B Avdulla 56.5
4
5.9
Alizee
- 5m Sepoy (AUS) x Essaouira (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J Bowman 56.5
5
6.0
Santa Ana Lane
- 7g Lope De Vega (IRE) x Fast Fleet (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Anthony Freedman Rdr: M Zahra 58.5
6
6.8
Zoutori
- 4g Zoustar (AUS) x Atotori (AUS) (Haradasun (AUS))
Tnr: M Ellerton & S Zahra Rdr: Damian Lane 58.5
7
8.3
Malibu Style
- 8g Magnus (AUS) x Origami (AUS) (Fusaichi Pegasus (USA))
Tnr: N D Parnham Rdr: D Oliver 58.5
8
9.1
The Bostonian
- 5g Jimmy Choux (NZ) x Keepa Cheval (NZ) (Keeper (AUS))
Tnr: A W Pike Rdr: D Dunn 58.5
9
9.9
Rock Magic
- 10g Redoute's Choice (AUS) x Rockabubble (AUS) (Bubble Gum Fellow (JPN))
Tnr: Chris Gangemi Rdr: Jarrad Noske 58.5
More Reading...
The Boss Lady Bounces Back in G3 Belmont Sprint
Tough Street Boss (USA) mare The Boss Lady lived up to her name with a hard fought win in the G3 Belmont Sprint yesterday.
Another Nicconi Stakes-Winner
Winner of the Group III BRC Fred Best Classic at three, talented six year-old Nicconi gelding Niccanova recaptured top form when winning the Listed BRC Brisbane Stakes at Doomben on Saturday.
Newhaven Park Confirm 2025 Fees
One week after Newhaven Park bred, raised and sold Cool Archie recorded his second successive juvenile stakes race victory in the Group 2 Spirit of Boom Classic at Doomben, Newhaven Park stud principal John Kelly has confirmed the 2025 service fees for the first-crop 2-year-old’s sire Cool Aza Beel (NZ), as well as the farm’s two associate stallions Xtravagant (NZ) and Mo’Unga&nb
Unbeaten Nicconi 3YO Impresses
The Tony Pike-trained Not Ideal indicated he has a promising future ahead of him after he maintained his winning ways at Tauranga.
Nicconi's Niccanova Toughs it Out in Bernborough Handicap
Tough-as-teak Nicconi 6yo gelding Niccanova carried his top weight of 59kgs to an all the way win in Saturday’s Listed Bernborough Handicap (1600m) at Eagle Farm.
Sires Pack Profitable Punch at Weanling Sale
There are many members of New Zealand’s stallion ranks whose progenies racetrack results far exceed their service fee.  Next month’s NZB National Weanling Sale at Karaka is an ideal opportunity for traders and end users to secure the progeny of these creditable sires.
Highview Stud Announce 2025 Fees
With a host of quality performers from its proven lineup – Divine Prophet, Santos and Wrote – over the past 12 months, along with plenty of excitement about the pending arrival of Mr Mozart’s first foals, New Zealand’s Highview Stud has announced stallion fees for 2025.
Juvenile Trial Watch - Rosehill
Trials this morning at Rosehill were run on a heavy 9 so horses were well held together and not asked for too much, but there were still a couple of intriguing unraced heat winners by Extreme Choice and Justify (USA), plus we got another look at the $1.4million Wootton Bassett (GB) colt from Sunlight.
Waikato Stud to Cheer Derby Runners
Waikato Stud will have strength in numbers to add to its success rate in the Gr.1 Queensland Derby (2400m) and boost its seasonal tally at the top level.
Sires With Winners - Thursday May 29
Here is the full list of 41 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.