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“It’s an honour to train a horse like him.”
Nature Strip follows in the footsteps of Choisir (2003), Takeover Target (2006), Miss Andretti (2007), Scenic Blast (2009) and Black Caviar (2012) as Australian-trained sprinters who competed at racing’s most coveted five-day carnival and won. Choisir won the King Stand Stakes in 2003, and backed up on the final day of the carnival to win the Golden Jubilee over 1200 metres.
Nature Strip ridden by James McDonald wins The King’s Stand Stakes during Royal Ascot 2022.Credit:Alex Livesey/Getty Images
If Waller elects to run Nature Strip again on Sunday morning, he’ll have to take on stablemate Home Affairs who McDonald is already booked to ride. Jamie Kah, regarded as one of the world’s best female jockeys, is in London on standby for the ride.
Waller was noncommittal post-race whether Nature Strip would run again later in the week.
“We’ll get him through today,” he said.
“He’s still got a job to do in Australia. Hopefully, he comes through the race well, and we’ll make a decision later in the week. We won’t be making a decision today.”
Speaking post-race, McDonald described Nature Strip’s performance as “incredible”.
James McDonald rides Nature Strip near the starting gates in The King’s Stand Stakes.Credit:Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
“The team have done a marvellous job,” he said.
“I’m so lucky to be on him. He’s an absolute freak of a horse. I think he would have silenced a few critics with that performance because he was scintillating.”
The American Golden Pal was the boom horse, but he did not threaten the superstar Aussie gelding.
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales at the Royal Ascot 2022.Credit:Chris Jackson/Getty Images
“I’ve seen the American horse, the big spruik horse, charge through, and at the two [furlong] pole I thought, ’Are you going to come?” McDonald quipped.
“He had no response and away [Nature Strip] went.”
The only horse that got close to him was Khaadem, who was disqualified after losing his jockey.
Waller was a picture of calm pre-race, but he admitted to being nervous before the meeting.
“Nerves were pretty bad until this morning, and the horse has got here in great shape,” Waller said pre-race.
“Coming all this way to a different time zone, to the Northern Hemisphere, is a really big thing. The last 12 days have just been recovery from the 40-hour journey to get here,
“He’s in good form. He looks great. I just wanted to see him here safe, so that’s helped settled the nerves, so I’ll let them do the talking now.”