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As a leading Australasian businessman and a former New Zealand Rugby and All Black Board Member for 6 years, Peter Kean is no stranger to success. But Kean had no idea of the joy his sprinter Nature Strip would bring him when the owners started on this epic journey.
“To see our horse line up for the Everest for the third time is huge for us,” enthused Kean.
“The first time we raced, I was in Tokyo to watch the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup. I watched The Everest on the television from our hotel room before the All Blacks played in the Quarter Final Match, with my children, Patrick & Anna.
On the day, my wife Judith traveled to Sydney to watch The Everest in-person at Randwick that year.
We really didn't think he had any chance that year, but he led with 80-100 meters to go. At that point, we felt he could actually win. He finished fourth that year.
We didn't think he would run again after the first year when he finished fourth, so we can’t believe he will be running again, for the third time.
Due to COVID, we can’t take him to Royal Ascot, Dubai, Hong Kong or anywhere else, so Everest is the pinnacle of racing for us with him this year.
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You Can’t Keep An Excited Kiwi Away
With the restrictions around the pandemic, the owners were not able to watch their favorite sprinter take the stage. So, they brought the race to New Zealand, the way the rest of the world has learned to do, through a TV screen
“We got about a hundred of our close family and friends together to watch the race in a bar we own in Auckland. And everyone got excited but unfortunately, he finished seventh. So, it was a disappointing year,” says Kean.
“This year, we have high hopes for him.
Nature Strip Set Benchmark For The Everest
Arguably the world's best sprinter, Nature Strip was quickly snapped up by Chris Waller Racing as the first contender to be chosen to run in the 2021 Everest.
“Following his scintillating victory in the TJ Smith I felt it was an opportune time to be putting a deal forward to secure him for 2021,’’ Chris Waller said in an interview at the time.
Once again the strict lockdown has put paid to their plans once again.
“We have traveled a lot to watch our horses race. In fact, we traveled quite frequently to Australia, especially to Melbourne,” said Kean with a sigh.
“So, it's been really hard, considering how passionate we are about our horses. We love going to watch our horses and we especially love the race day atmosphere.
“So, it's been tough not being able to watch him win those Group Ones.
“But we are very lucky in New Zealand, and so we made the most of that. Emotions are something that you can control. And although we couldn't be there you know; they still can't take the Nature Strip (the horse) away from us,” he said.
“I think when you live in Australia or New Zealand, Nature Strip is a very polarizing force.
“As The Everest is such a popular race in Australasia if Nature Strip won people would be influenced to see Nature Strip as a masterful racehorse and that would be really lovely for us as owners.”
'Better Do The Haka': Steve Hansen's Quips To Trainer
Sydney-based Kiwi trainer Chris Waller got some novel advice from former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, part-owner of Nature Strip ahead of the world’s richest turf race on Saturday.
“He said ‘you’d better do the haka with Nature Strip to get him pumped up and get the blood flowing,” Waller told the Big Sports Breakfast.
The predominantly kiwi ownership group comprises a core of five to six close friends.
“There are five or six of us who have been into horses for a long time. We have other horses with other people but the core five that have been there for a long time, we own horses quite a number of horses together,” says Kean.
“I was friends with Steve Hansen who was the All-Blacks coach about twenty-five or thirty years ago. I knew him when he was a policeman coaching a rugby team in his spare time.”
“And Patrick Harrison has been a good friend for a really long time now. He got me to join him in buying horses together. And then I introduced Patrick Harrison to Steve Hansen on a Melbourne Cup Day.
“That’s how we got Steve involved. And eventually, we had a few others join as well. There are other very enthusiastic owners involved in the ownership of Nature Strip as well”
A Strip Of Favourites
For Kean, there are very few favorites outside of Nature Strip.
“I think you have to say that Nature Strip has been my favorite horse. I really like Flemington as a racecourse. We saw Nature Strip win the Gr.1 Darley Stakes there and it was one of his finest moments,” he said.