Champion sprinter Nature Strip left an adoring crowd in awe at Royal Ascot

Chris Waller could feel the love from English racing fans after Australia’s best sprinter conquered the world at Royal Ascot.

A jubilant James McDonald after riding Nature Strip to his brilliant win at Royal Ascot. Picture: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Chris Waller will never forget the champion’s ovation afforded Nature Strip from the big Royal Ascot crowd after the chestnut’s win in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes last Tuesday.

“The reception he got from the track and around the world has been quite amazing,’’ Waller said.

“He is going to leave England soon, and possibly return next year, as a very good racehorse and he will be remembered for that.’’

The English don’t like losing to the Aussies on the sporting field – and vice versa – but there was an obvious appreciation from Royal Ascot racegoers of Nature Strip’s sprinting superiority as he tore away from his rivals.

In fact, Nature Strip was so dominant in the King’s Stand it seemed the Group 1 Platinum Stakes was his for the taking but Waller has no regrets about his decision not to back-up with his brilliant sprinter.

“We specifically chose the 1000m race knowing it was a tough 1000m,’’ Waller said.

“Nature Strip was trained for the King’s Stand Stakes, he was properly prepared and ran an amazing race.

“It would have been great to completely dominate again in the Platinum Jubilee but he couldn’t do any more than he has already done.’’

Nature Strip goes into quarantine on Sunday ahead of his return to Sydney to be prepared for a defence of his title in the $15m The TAB Everest at Royal Randwick in October.

Waller’s super sprinter became the first The Everest winner to score on racing’s world stage and the welcome mat is out for his Royal Ascot return next year.

The significance of Nature Strip’s win can’t be understated as it enhanced The Everest’s reputation on the global stage.

Chris Waller and James McDonald celebrate with the champion sprinter. Picture: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

English racing journalists were in awe of the Aussie sprinter while acknowledging The Everest as one of the best sprints in world racing and openly questioning why the race has not yet been afforded Group 1 status.

Rated the world’s No.1 sprinter, Nature Strip has already been selected for The Everest in the Chris Waller Racing slot and the trainer hasn’t ruled out bringing the gelding back to Royal Ascot next year.

Nature Strip restored the balance of global sprinting dominance in Australia’s favour and set the tone for a triumphant Royal Ascot week for the green and gold.

Racing NSW chief executive Peter V’landys, who was given the rare honour of being part of the royal carriage procession on day two of Royal Ascot, was the driving force behind The Everest and Nature Strip was vindication of his vision.

“We have always said the reason we introduced The Everest is because we have the best sprinters in the world and Nature Strip has just proven that again,’’ V’landys said.

James McDonald, Sydney’s reigning champion jockey, won on Nature Strip to his King’s Stand Stakes triumph then backed up on day two to score on Dark Shift in the Royal Hunt Cup.

His brilliance on Dark Shift prompted England’s high profile and controversial racing presenter Matt Chapman to take to social media and declare McDonald the best jockey in the world.

State Of Rest could return to Australia to defend his Cox Plate crown after winning the Prince of Wales’s Stakes. Picture: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images

State Of Rest, winner of the Cox Plate last year and now part-owned by Henry Field’s Newgate Farm, scored an outstanding win in the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes.

Field said he hoped State Of Rest’s ownership group which includes Ireland’s Rathbarry Stud would consider another Australian spring carnival campaign.

“I will be pushing for him to go for the Cox Plate again,’’ Field said.

Jane Chapple-Hyam, the daughter of the late Australian politician Andrew Peacock, has called England home for many years and she trained two Royal Ascot winners including the impressive Saffron Beach in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained Kyprios has been mentioned as a possible Melbourne Cup contender after his strong staying performance to win the Group 1 Ascot Gold Cup.

Kyprios is raced by Moyglare and Coolmore Stud and races in colours that are strikingly similar to the legendary Carbine, winner of the 1890 Melbourne Cup.

The Australian influence extended to the final day with Artorius and Home Affairs contesting the Platinum Jubilee Stakes.

Home Affairs could continue on for the July Cup but his race career is coming to an end with his future assured as he will join the stallion roster at Coolmore’s Hunter Valley stud in the spring.

Artorius, who is also part-owned by Newgate, will race on next season with Field confirming the main target is the $10m Golden Eagle at Rosehill Gardens in October.

The Aussies returned this year and made a real statement at Royal Ascot – but none made as much noise as super sprinter Nature Strip.

Originally published as Champion sprinter Nature Strip left an adoring crowd in awe at Royal Ascot