High-class sprinter brings his A-game to land Lightning

Nature Strip (Nicconi) is a mercurial character and he was in the right mood at Flemington to show off his sparkling sprinting talent to lead home a Chris Waller-trained quinella in the G1 Black Caviar Lightning.

Blessed with abundant ability, Nature Strip can be an enigma at times but at his best he is an outstanding short course performer and he proved that on Saturday with a superb first-up display to defeat a field with 11 Group 1 victories between them.

The 6-year-old was given a sweet ride by the in-form Jamie Kah and added a fifth top-flight title to his record at the expense of his stablemate September Run (Exceed And Excel), who displayed the enthusiasm of youth to get within 0.5l at the post.

Nature Strip was sent out a short-priced favourite in this event 12 months ago and finished a disappointing fourth behind Gytrash (Lope De Vega {Ire}), but that was banished from memory with a powerhouse sprinting display.

“We have seen him struggle sometimes at 1000 metres first-up, but Jamie was nice and patient and knew there would be a lot of speed on with Pippie in the race,” Waller stable representative, Jo Taylor, said.

“She got him going at the right time and he kept on kicking. We’ve been pleased with him and his trials in Sydney and Chris has been very pleased with his preparation.

“He obviously had a few things go wrong in the spring so it was nice to see it all go smoothly. He’s come here and produced the goods. It’s fantastic to get a Group 1 result.

“Jamie is going fantastic and you certainly can’t fault her. It was great to have her on and she produced the goods.”

 

Nature Strip settled within striking distance of the leader Pippie (Written Tycoon) before he strode to the front 300 metres off the post and the chestnut saw it through strongly to the line to stop the clock at 56.91s for the 1000 metres.

“He showed today exactly why he is the Australian Horse of the Year and, as I said, we didn’t quite see that in the spring, but he’s come here and stamped his mark,” Taylor said.

Stablemate September Run was making her first appearance since she won the G1 Coolmore Stud S. and turned in a stout finishing run under rider Craig Williams.

“She was fantastic and when she trialled here last week we didn’t knock her about and we knew over 800 metres Nature Strip would be far too quick,” Taylor said.

“We gave her a soft trial and she loves the Flemington straight and Craig knows her so well. He was patient and she hit the line so well.”

Kah's fourth Group 1

For rider Kah, it was the fourth Group 1 success of her career and is now only one behind leading female jockey Michelle Payne.

“He was just unbelievable, what a horse. I just let him do whatever he wanted to do and he was beautiful early. Pippie set a nice tempo and he relaxed and dropped the bit,” she said.

“It set up beautifully for him and he wanted to drift and roll in a bit late, but I didn’t dare let him. He was just amazing and credit to Chris Waller and his team.

“It’s hard to get a horse like him fit because in his trials and his work he just does it all so effortlessly. I’m a bit emotional – it was amazing.

“To get on a horse of this calibre is remarkable and to get the job done is amazing. He was in a great mood and I think he is getting better with age.

“Chris has found the key to him and given him that extra trial and he had to be rock-hard fit because he runs at such a high cruising speed.”

The grey Western Australian mare Fabergino (Maschino) finished a gallant fourth ahead of Bivouac (Exceed And Excel), who looked to have every chance and Pippie weakened to sixth.