Nature Strip Back to Best

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

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.

“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 and selling for up to $370,000.