The 6-year-old son of Nicconi already has a resume the envy of most racehorses, having recently added the title of Australian Racehorse of the Year to his on track successes in the G1 The Galaxy, Moir S., VRC Sprint Classic and TJ Smith S. over the past 18 months.
Having been through four previous trainers before landing with Chris Waller at the start of last year, he is a horse that has presented his fair set of challenges. No-one is more aware of that than Lyons, but he still has complete and utter faith in the ability of Nature Strip.
"It’s a bit of the Australian way, people wanting to knock the tall poppy, but he's only finished further back than fourth twice in his 25 starts. He's won 14 races and four Group 1s and he's a very honest and consistent horse," Lyons told TDN AusNZ.
"It’s a bit of the Australian way, people wanting to knock the tall poppy, but he's only finished further back than fourth twice in his 25 starts." - Rod Lyons
"He doesn't win all the time, because he is not Winx or Black Caviar. He's a very, very good horse with chinks in his armour and when everything falls into place, he's a very hard horse to beat."
Nature Strip's reputation as a racetrack enigma is mainly due to his racing manners. He has tended to overdo it in his races and it has taken a considerable effort for Waller and his team to get the horse to race more tractably in order to help him realise his potential.
"He's got his quirks and that's always in the back of everyone's minds, including the owners as well. He does have to have things go his own way. He can tend to be a bit one dimensional in that regard and you pretty much know the fate pretty early in the race with him," Lyons said.
Chris Waller and Rod Lyons
"The extra time Chris has spent with him has made a big difference. Chris was able to do the work with him, as well as his team, including Stuey, who rides him all the time. They were able to get him to settle that first 200 metres out of the barrier.
"Chris has said time and time again, horses can only run flat out for 400 metres and when you are running 10 second furlongs, they can't just keep going. He's got to harness that. He has to cruise in that high 10 or early 11 second furlong space because if he starts running those early 10 second furlongs, he will run out of petrol tickets."
It seemed Waller had indeed worked his magic on Nature Strip, when, after placing a creditable fourth in last year's edition of The Everest, he came out to post dominant wins in the G1 VRC Sprint Classic later in the spring and then the G1 TJ Smith S. in the autumn.
He was clearly the best sprinter in the country and having been snapped up to represent TAB in its slot in this year's The Everest, he was posted as a short-priced favourite for the race. There were even odds posted on Nature Strip progressing through his spring campaign unbeaten.
A mixed campaign to date
However, never renowned as a horse who peaks first-up from a spell, he was defeated as a $1.45 favourite first-up by Gytrash (Lope De Vega {Ire}) in the G3 Concorde S. at Randwick in early September.
His build up to The Everest got that even more complicated when he dumped James McDonald at the start of a trial at Randwick, requiring a second trial ahead of the G2 Premiere S. to satisfy stewards.
He was posted a $2.20 favourite in the Premiere, but was one of the first horses beaten, fading to finish fourth, some 4l adrift of the winner Libertini (I Am Invincible), who he meets again on Saturday.
Lyons is not completely surprised that Nature Strip has been below his best in those first two runs, and said a longer than expected winter spell may have counted against him early in the spring
"It's interesting because if Brisbane had have been on, he would have gone there. He's a big gross horse, and he had nearly five months off and that was a long spell for him," he said.
"It's only my opinion, but being that big horse, he only gets better as he gets into a campaign. Until he actually gets to a race, he doesn't get 100 per cent fit that's why he improves with each run."
"It's only my opinion, but being that big horse, he only gets better as he gets into a campaign. Until he actually gets to a race, he doesn't get 100 per cent fit that's why he improves with each run." - Rod Lyons
Not helping that, according to Lyons, is Nature Strip's pure competitive instinct when put in a race situation.
"You just have to look at the horse in the mounting yard, and when he goes to the start, he is like a kid's pony. But he gets white line fever. As soon as he gets into those barriers, all he wants to do is race everybody and go as fast as he can. Waller and those guys have been getting that out of him and getting him to relax when he needs to," he said.
The Kiwi influence
Owning any good horse can be stressful, but the style of Nature Strip's career has meant he is more of a rollercoaster than most for Lyons. Keeping him grounded has been his fellow owners, including former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen and New Zealand businessmen Patrick Harrison and Peter Kean.
"The majority shareholders in the horse are all good mates of mine and we've got three Kiwis in there. They are fantastic blokes. They have taught us a fair bit, that win lose or draw, we all end up the same. We are all still in a happy frame of mind," he said.
"They have probably taken the pressure off us. It seems to be the Kiwi way. We can learn a bit about that as Australians in terms of sportsmanship. You only have to look at the Cricket World Cup result last year. We wouldn't have taken it as well as they did. It’s about competing in the best 1200 metre race in the world and that is a big buzz in itself."
Nature Strip winning the G1 The Galaxy
Lyons admits that buzz has been somewhat dulled this year by the fact that only one of the owners will be trackside at Randwick on Saturday, while Lyons himself remains in Melbourne under local lockdown.
"It’s a totally different experience. Last year was our first Everest and the whole gang was there. They do a fabulous job promoting The Everest and it’s a great experience. Peter V'landys has done a terrific job and the way they look after you and the standard of the hospitality, it’s fabulous. The whole week is a great experience," he said.
"Not being there after being there last year is a real downer. We are now locked up and can't even have people around to watch the race. Jack, the one owner who lives in Sydney, he is grabbing all the glory and enjoying himself and good luck to him.
"It's exciting thinking about the race, and being able to watch the race, but it feels hollow not being there."
Regardless of the circumstances, Lyons is hopeful Nature Strip can put his best forward.
"The nerves are jangling a bit, but the horse is, I believe, terrific. He's got over his problems, his coat has improved and the reports from Chris are excellent. He said he worked brilliantly on Tuesday and everybody has got their fingers crossed and are hoping for the best," he said.
