Australian runner Nature’s Stripere is labeled “a game of horses” after a long and worthwhile journey to winning the Group One Royal Stand Stakes at the first meeting of the Ascot district on Tuesday.
The star-trained Christopher Waller has become a majestic performance since the famous absence of Queen Elizabeth II.
While watching Windsor Castle on TV, Prince Charles and his wife Camilla were stationed.
The first Royal Ascot from 2019 to greet the full house top-hatted and tail-blond, men and women dressed in the latest dress, was to greet the full house after two years of crowd restrictions due to Covid.
The Nature Strip was only the second Waller runner in the league — Beau Brazen finished second in the 2015 Platinum Jubilee Stakes — but James McDonald never gave up on his momentum.
“The game is an absolute horse,” McDonald said.
“I thought about how one came with him. I didn’t know this delicate horse. That horse rider (Khadeem) gave me a little alarm!”
Waller was overjoyed that he had confirmed that he deserved to be rated among the best team in the world.
“It’s a lot,” said Waller.
“We have the opportunity to come here very often and we get the English, Irish, French, Americans and even Dubai and Hong Kong runners.
“To bring the horse here, not only to run, but to win, is a very unique thing. He is uncontaminated.”
Waller said later in the week that he would decide if the Nature Strip would run in the Jubilee in the Platinum Stakes, although he already had a home run.
It was theft
Before that, he went off on a clash with Baaeed as he pointed out why he was immediately considered the highest horse in the world.
The unbeaten eight got the victory without effort in the opening of the Queen Anne Stakes, who was 1/6 in justifying the odds.
Four-year-old Jim Crowley, who rides with trainer William Haggas, beat Real World by one and three-quarter lengths.
“The only way I can explain the feeling when you’re at a funfair and expect to ride quickly in the queue, that’s the feeling before you get on it,” said Crowley, whose face was laid in pleasure. Stables five tall boy.
“Once upon a time you’re in it and it’s great – I really enjoy it. It’s a pleasure to ride.
“It’s the pinnacle. You can spend your entire life waiting for this horse to arrive. He is a superstar.
“Sheikh Hamdan (al-Maktoum, who died next year) will laugh and look down.”
Coroebus – owned by Dubai director Sheikh Mohammed Godolphin’s Operation – picked up another ball in one contest at the Palace of St James Stakes.
It was hard to fight under William Buick, who made 16 riders to the 2000 Guineas and complete the Santiago Palace English Stakes in a double.
“You have to enjoy these good horses, and you’ll find that I get them the most outstanding,” said Buick, who was celebrating his 29th Royal Ascot winner.
“Then cause getting work done was a trick.
“He is strong, he turns his foot and will win. He has everything you want in a race.”
Appleby, who won the Ascot XI royalty, welcomed home “the tough and gritty performance we got on the line with style and consistency”.
Front Hollie Doyle took second on the race map, leading Bradsell to winning the Coventry Stakes for trainer Archie Watson.
“I told my fiance yesterday, “Whatever wins, he’s a superstar” and that’s what he did and went on to do,” Watson said.
“For this is a great thing for us and I’d like to thank everyone; it pleases me just by repaying all of this as well as winning this good race.”
pi/jc