Nature Strip Back to Best

Tara Madgwick - Saturday March 7

Nicconi’s star sprinting son Nature Strip was back to his brilliant best at Randwick on Saturday scoring a brilliant all the way victory in the Group II ATC Challenge Stakes (1000m).

Advertisement

Nature Strip in full flight - image Steve Hart

The Chris Waller trained powerhouse was disappointing when resuming from a spell to finish fourth to Gytash in the Group I VRC Lightning Stakes last month, but showed that was nothing more than a momentary blip on his record when running his rivals ragged at Randwick.

He led from gate one for James McDonald and dominated his rivals with a scintillating display of speed winning by three lengths over Redzel and clocking 56.87 seconds.

 



"That's what we thought he would do in Melbourne," McDonald said.

"There's a little peanut between his ears. Some days it works and some days it doesn't.

Nature Strip brought his A game to Randwick!"Chris (Waller) brought him back to Sydney and got him right as he always does.

"And when he gets it right there's not a feeling like it on a racehorse. He just does his thing and it's a pleasure sit on top.

"And when he gets it wrong, he gets it terribly wrong."

Nature Strip has a great record with 13 wins from 22 starts and $4.3million in prizemoney.

“I was dead keen to run him in the Canterbury Stakes today, but that went pear shaped after last start,” said Chris Waller.

"We will head to the TJ Smith and the Newmarket horses will come up so it will be a great race."

Bred by Golden Grove, Nature Strip was passed in as a yearling and is a half-brother to stakes-winner The Barrister from Group III winning Desert Sun (GB) mare Strikeline.

Nature Strip is the best performer for Widden Stud’s Nicconi, who is enjoying a terrific yearling sales season with his 34 yearlings sold so far this year averaging $105,367.


 

Advertisment

Race Result - Hyland Race Colours Challenge Gr2 1000m

Randwick Track: Soft(6) Time: 0:56.87
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
3.0
Redzel
- 7g Snitzel (AUS) x Millrich (AUS) (Rubiton (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: K Mc Evoy 58.5
3
3.2
Jungle Edge
- 9g Dubawi (IRE) x Jungle Girl (NZ) (Carnegie (IRE))
Tnr: M A Bell Rdr: Ms J Da Rose 58.5
4
3.7
Miss Leonidas
- 5m I Am Invincible (AUS) x Happy Play (AUS) (Barathea (IRE))
Tnr: S A Dwyer Rdr: J Bowditch 56.5
5
3.9
Deprive
- 5g Denman (AUS) x Defrock (AUS) (Canny Lad (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J Bowman 58.5
6
4.7
Santa Ana Lane
- 7g Lope De Vega (IRE) x Fast Fleet (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: Anthony Freedman Rdr: M Zahra 58.5
7
6.5
Ball Of Muscle
- 9g Dubawi (IRE) x Parfore (NZ) (Gold Brose (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: G Schofield 58.5
8
15.6
I Am Immortal
- 3c I Am Invincible (AUS) x Meliora (AUS) (Ad Valorem (USA))
Tnr: Anthony Freedman Rdr: Tim Clark 56
More Reading...
Almanzor Colt Wins G2 Italian Derby
Wootton Bassett sired the winner of the Group I Prix du Jockey Club (French Derby) on Sunday in Camille Pissarro and then overnight his champion Cambridge Stud based son Almanzor (Fr) produced the winner of the Group II Derby Italiano (2200m).
Pride of Jenni to Visit I Am Invincible - Match Made in Heaven
Three-time Champion Sire I Am Invincible has been confirmed as the first mating for reigning Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year Pride Of Jenni, who will head to the breeding barn this season following a phenomenal racing career.
Blueblood Import - American-Bred Jillaroo Records First Win
Purchased at the 2022 Keeneland September Yearling Sale by Ciaron Maher, the now 4yo mare Jillaroo (USA) (Curlin) initially started her racing career in the United States but after an Australian debut second at Caulfield in early May, recorded her maiden victory at Doomben.
Pencarrow Stud hits a hundred winners in stellar season
Pencarrow Stud has celebrated an outstanding achievement with a century of homebred winners for the season.
$1500 Weanling Becomes $525,000 Top Lot at MM National Yearling Finale
A colt by Harry Angel set a new benchmark in Australia for his sire and topped the final day of the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale when selling for $525,000 to conclude a hugely successful two weeks of sales.
Third Stakes Success For Justify’s Spicy Martini
A winner of four from six, three at stakes level highlighted by the reschedule Group 3 Fred Best Classic (1350m), the Toby Edmonds & Stephen McLean trained Spicy Martini (Justify) will now head to the Group 1 Stradbroke with just 49.5kgs on her back – not bad for an $8,000 online yearling purchase!
Impressive First Winner for St Marks Basilica
Coolmore shuttler St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) was the 2021 European Horse of the Year and the son of Siyouni is on the board as a sire with his first winner after Rogue Supremacy scored an impressive debut victory.
Sires With Winners - Monday June 2
Here is the full list of 40 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Frosty Girl impressive on debut
The Chris Waller-trained Frosty Girl made the perfect start to her career when coming from last to land the Asahi Super Dry Plate (1300m) on debut at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday June 3
Here is the full list of 30 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.