Nature Strip retires

The curtain has been drawn on the wonderful career of world champion sprinter Nature Strip.

An emotional trainer Chris Waller announced the decision after a below-par performance when resuming in the Group 2 Concorde Stakes (1000m) at Randwick on Saturday.

“I’m announcing his retirement on behalf of the owners,” Waller said.

“He’s just been an amazing horse, everything he’s done he’s just done to the best of his ability, even today.

“He wasn’t the same horse in the race today. Yes, he jumped well, he travelled nicely, and looked to come up the rise well, but that same spark or acceleration wasn’t there.

“It’s so fitting we announce it as soon as the decision’s been made. I guess you could ask why did we bring him this extra preparation? Well, the simple fact is he’s a sound horse, he’s a happy horse, and that’s how he’ll retire.

“Thank you to everyone, it’s been an amazing journey, and I can’t thank you enough. He’s a champion.”

Rod Lyons was on course for the announcement and said Nature Strip had been the horse every owner dreams of.

“It’s wonderful to have had a horse like him,” Lyons said.

“We wish he could’ve won today and gone on, but he’s been a wonderful racehorse who’s taken us to magnificent heights. Who would have ever dreamt we’d get a horse like him?”

James McDonald, who was in the saddle for 12 of Nature Strip’s 25 career wins and scaled the heights of racing in Australia and abroad with the star sprinter, said the run in the Concorde was disappointing.

“1000m is always a little bit sharp for him but he ran below par,” McDonald said post-race.