Chief Stipe

Nature Strip king of the world after Royal Ascot romp www.racenet.com.au Star jockey James McDonald celebrates as Nature Strip dominates in the King’s Stand Stakes. Picture: Alan Crowhurst-Getty Images Nature Strip – dynamic, dominant, brilliant, breathtaking. There were not enough superlatives to describe Nature Strip’s virtuoso performance on racing’s biggest stage to prove he is the world’s best sprinter at Royal Ascot on Tuesday. The Chris Waller-trained Nature Strip defeated an elite field to score a famous win in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes (a1000m) before a huge crowd of more than 75,000 racegoers who watched the Royal meeting in glorious English summer sunshine. Champion Nature Strip, ridden by James McDonald, started 9/4 second favourite but absolutely blitzed his rival with a stunning speed display to score by more than four lengths. Nature Strip’s win provided Waller, Australia’s leading trainer, with his breakthrough international win. Waller had wanted to take Nature Strip to Royal Ascot in 2020 and again last year but was prevented from doing so due to the global pandemic. In hindsight, Waller felt this was a “blessing in disguise” as Nature Strip has matured into a more complete racehorse this season and dominated his King’s Stand Stakes rivals. “Nature Strip has just got better and better,’’ Waller said. “He is learning about his racing, enjoying his racing, and that was the difference between the horse from his early days. He used to try and get things done in a hurry all the time. “But then he realised he could sit off them and still beat his rivals. It’s has been a privilege to be a part of this horse.’’ There was a big betting plunge on American speedster Golden Pal who firmed into 7/4 favouritism but Nature Strip was always solid on the second line of betting. But the expected “drag race” between Nature Strip and Golden Pal never eventuated. Nature Strip was in a race of his own. “We didn’t dare dream of a win like that,’’ Waller said. “There are so many things that can go wrong but his preparation has been faultless. “He has come a long way, a 40-hour flight, coming out of a winter in Australia to a lovely Trainer Chris Waller greets Nature Strip after winning The King's Stand Stakes. Picture: Alan Crowhurst-Getty Images Royal Ascot day and we were just hoping everything would go to plan. “We are in awe of European racing and to finally bring a horse to Royal Ascot and showcase him on the world stage is a very proud moment. “I know there were a lot of expectations back at home so hopefully we have made everyone proud.’’ There was certainly a significant Australian presence on track with national flags being waved proudly after the race. Nature Strip is the first Australian-trained horse to win at Royal Ascot since the incomparable Black Caviar in 2012. McDonald said Nature Strip was at his awesome best in his Royal Ascot romp. Connections celebrate Nature Strip’s win with jockey James McDonald. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images “The way he quickened up the rise and the way he executed his gallop was scintillating,’’ McDonald said. “It was an unbelievable feel coming up the race, he was airborne.’’ Nature Strip justified his world’s number one sprinter ranking and became the first winner of The Everest to subsequently be successful in a major overseas race. Nature Strip’s Royal Ascot win capped a memorable 2021-22 racing seasons for Waller and McDonald. Waller has trained his 11th Group 1 winners this season – and a total of 137 in his career – including The Everest and Melbourne Cup. McDonald has ridden most of Waller’s big race winners this season and the King’s Stand Stakes was also the champion jockey’s 11th Group 1 of the season, and the 65th major of his career. Nature Strip confirmed his status as the world’s best sprinter. Picture: Alex Livesey-Getty Images The trainer and jockey aren’t finished yet as they will combine with Home Affairs in the Group 1 Platinum Jubilee Stakes on Saturday. Waller said the focus now will be getting Nature Strip back to Sydney to prepare for his defence of the $15 million The Everest title at Royal Randwick in October. Nature Strip scored the 21st win of his 38-start career, his ninth at Group 1 level and took his earnings to more than $18 million, second only to Winx ($26.4 million) in the all-time rankings. Waller’s super sprinter became the fifth Australian-trained King’s Stand Stakes winner after Choisir (2003), Takeover Target (2006), Miss Andretti (2007) and Scenic Blast (2009). Nature Strip’s Royal Ascot win should ensure the chestnut secures a second Australian Horse of the Year title after he won the honour in 2019-20. He won five of his eight starts including The Everest and Group 1 wins in the VRC Sprint Classic and TJ Smith Stakes. Verry Elleegant, the defending champ, also had a great season with three wins from nine starts including Group 1 successes in the Melbourne Cup, George Main Stakes and Chipping Norton Stakes. Hitotsu (Victoria Derby, Australian Guineas, Australian Derby) and Incentivise (Makybe Diva Stakes, Turnbull Stakes, Caulfield Cup) also won three times at Group 1 level and are in Horse of the Year contention.

Every point in complaining individually and collectively. Otherwise silence is deemed compliance.

Do you have any proof of what you infer?

Really Freda? Seems the industry participants have been happy to take dosh from wherever they can get their hands on it. Pokies, tax breaks, free handouts, subsidies and on and on. That said it all pales into insignificance when compared to what another sector of society has been given.

Yep although it wasn’t only people of small stature who got caught in the cross fire. Even I got calls!

The complete stranger that saved a $500k payday www.racenet.com.au Jesse Heinz came to the rescue of Maree Smith in her time of need on Saturday They say not all heroes wear capes and when it comes to 28-year-old Killarney Vale local Jesse Heinz truer words have never been spoken. Heinz swiftly became the man of the hour in the lead up to Saturday night's The Ladbrokes 715 Final after shuttling a distressed Maree Smith and Miss Ezmae to The Gardens after Smith's car broke down at Sandy Hollow, still two hours from her destination. And Heinz's new found rock star status within greyhound racing circles only intensified after Miss Ezmae led throughout to claim the eye-watering $500,000-to-the-winner prize for connections late on Saturday night. "I had absolutely no idea how big a deal it all was," Heinz told News Corp. Maree Smith gives Miss Ezmae a kiss after taking out the inaugural The Ladbrokes 715 Picture: Steve Whalland "I'd been in Mudgee for the day motorbike riding and on the way home was deciding whether to get petrol at Sandy Hollow or push through to Singleton. "I ended up stopping at Sandy Hollow and when I did Maree came up to me and was obviously pretty flustered asking if there's any chance I could take her to where she needed to go. "She said she'd been across to the local pub and had asked around and didn't get much back there so I said I wouldn't mind. I have no idea about racing in general so I had no clue how important it was. "I just assumed it was some local thing that was no big deal." After embarking on the two hour journey to The Gardens with Maree and Miss Ezmae resting up on the folded down back seats of Heinz's Ford Ranger, the flicker of hope that the race favourite would make her assignment for the world's richest staying race was restored. "Maree and I were talking on the way there and she was telling me she'd done the same drive from Forbes the week before to win the heat," Heinz said. "But I had no idea it was worth that kind of money. When we got to the track there were people everywhere, I thought I was at the Melbourne Cup there was that much going on. "As soon as we pulled up stewards and guys in suits were running over. It was all pretty intense." With Miss Ezmae narrowly making the cut-off time for her date with destiny in her swan song to racing, Heinz began his journey home to the central coast. "I called a mate of mine Mitch who doesn't mind a bet and let him know what had happened," Heinz said. "I said to him I had a good feeling she might win with the circumstances and to put a few bucks on her. By this stage I'd worked out Maree had sneakily left some money in my car so I decided to back her as well. "It was like an hour later my mate rang me back and said do you know how much that dog is racing for? I had worked out it was pretty important but had no idea it was half-a-million dollars!" Given the events of the day the 9.50pm starting time for The Ladbrokes 715 proved a bridge too far for Heinz. "Nah, I was asleep by then," he said. "But I woke up to a flood of messages and voicemails from mates and the owners of Miss Ezmae and Maree who were all extremely thankful for the help. "For me it was no huge deal but I was glad I could help and it all worked out in the end."

I believe so. Now that was an interesting time on social media.

What the hell are you on about?

What's wrong with that?

Last year all international entrants were required to have a nuclear scintigraphy and a CT scan. All local entrants were also required to have a CT scan. There will always be horses going amiss. Always have been. The nature of the beast particularly when asked to so something it isn't really designed to do.

On winter tracks you have to. You just can't expect to make up heaps of ground in the straight.

Bit hard to do that in a Melbourne Cup lead up. The horses have so many scans they are probably suffering from radiation sickness.

Perhaps more Jockeys should consider going forward earlier to put themselves in the race.

How many did the WAGS win?

In my opinion this issue is due to our Jockey's not being able to assess pace and not putting their horses into a race or a position to win. It isn't easy on any track to sit back on a Soft or Heavy track and expect to storm down the outside in the last 300m. Yet our riders think they can. I agree with Curious. If there is a track related leaders bias at Ruakaka what aspects of the track causes it? I don't see any. Therefore as Curious suggests it is perception by Trainers and Jockey's that becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.

Your point?

Bollocks. Same old harness racing rumour mongering. How many Pick 6's did these WAGS win?

Or a lack of pace on a track without a leaders bias?

I don't think they ever expected training numbers to increase at Cambridge. 1,200 in work. The AWT replaced one of the stuffed turf tracks. Cambridge could have funded it themselves.

Race day stoush between horse owners and greyhound trainer caught on camera www.nzherald.co.nz A drunken race day clash of the codes melee between horse owners and a greyhound trainer was caught on camera and has led to a misconduct hearing. The stoush at the Waikato BOP Harness race meeting at Cambridge Raceway, a dual greyhound racing and harness racing meeting, on Christmas Eve 2021 was a continuation of bad blood between three men. It resulted in David Anthony Marshall, a licensed stablehand and registered harness horse owner, and Ricki Lloyd Herbert, a licensed amateur driver and registered harness horse owner, facing misconduct charges brought by the Racing Integrity Board. Marshall admitted that he was drinking on and off throughout the day and probably had a few too many but Herbert denied drinking a significant quantity of alcohol, the board's summary of facts stated. As greyhound trainer Allen Christiansen returned to the dais area in front of the main grandstand following a race about 6pm he encountered Marshall who began to yell abuse and threaten him. "You got beat, you f******g piece of s***" and "**** come here I will smash your head in," Marshall bellowed. Christiansen continued to walk with his dog with Marshall following, continuing to shout abuse. Get the latest headlines straight to your inbox. By signing up for this newsletter, you agree to NZME’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. I’m not interested in Morning Headlines newsletter. Please don’t show me this again. Herbert then crossed a roped fence, approached Christiansen and began yelling abuse while gesturing toward him in a threatening manner. A small scuffle broke out when others got involved while several people continued to abuse Christiansen. Others stepped in to ensure the disturbance didn't descend into physical violence and Christiansen walked away without responding to any of the commotion. The end of the incident was captured on CCTV operated by the TAB. In its decision, the Racing Integrity Board said the footage was broadcast live to the nation on Trackside television but the TAB said this was not correct. Open Justice approached TAB to obtain the footage but was told it would not release it and that it never went to air because Trackside crossed to another race meeting. The racing board investigator confirmed he viewed the footage as part of his investigation and that the board had a copy of the recording, which was provided by the TAB. After the incident that day, Christiansen scratched the rest of his dogs from the meeting and left the course stating he didn't feel comfortable remaining. The board noted there was relevant background to the fracas. In July 2021 Christiansen assaulted Marshall's son Kyle, by slapping him through the open window of a vehicle and then slamming the door hard enough to cause the glass to smash. He shoved a second man into a concrete wall, causing a cut to the back of his head and pushed another in the shoulder. Christiansen was found guilty of three misconduct charges and disqualified for a period of three months, beginning in January 2022. Both Marshall and Herbert admitted a charge of misconduct and were referred to an Adjudicative Committee to decide their penalty. The committee said aggravating factors included the threatening and intimidating behaviour which happened in a highly public area. "Their conduct fell well short of the behaviour that is expected of persons licensed to participate in the Harness Racing Industry and fell well short of what is reasonably expected of persons conducting themselves in society in general." Mitigating factors included both men admitting the charge, their cooperation with the board and Marshall had apologised in writing and offered to take part in mediation. Both men were $1,000.

You only have a limited time after you post to edit. Otherwise posters would go back and redit forever.