Champion sprinter Nature Strip has run his last race.
First-up into Saturday’s Group 3 Concorde Stakes at Randwick, the now nine-year-old failed to impress and finished down the track into sixth place in the field of eight, beating only two $151 chances home.
Trainer Chris Waller and managing part-owner Rod Lyons spoke to the press not long after the race and confirmed Nature Strip’s retirement.
"I'm announcing his retirement on behalf of the owners… it's only fitting that we announce it as soon as the decision has been made."
Nature Strip will retire as a happy, healthy and sound horse after an outstanding career. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/4cFSeGSLqZ
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 2, 2023
“I’m announcing his (Nature Strip’s) retirement on behalf of the owners,” Waller told the media.
“He’s just been an amazing horse and everything he does he does to the best of his ability, even today, he was prepared well, he came to the race sound, he was trialling well.
“Yes, he jumped well, he travelled nicely, he looked to come up the rise well but the same acceleration and spark wasn’t there.
“There has been no indication that race ability was not there anymore, but he wasn’t the same horse in the race today.
“He’s just been such an amazing horse, it’s only fitting that we announce it as soon as the decision has been made.”
Nature Strip retires after 44 starts, winning 22 races while placing nine times since making his race track debut in a Maiden for three-year-olds at Mornington in October 2017. The chestnut won nine Group 1 races and nearly $21m prizemoney.
