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Former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen was in Tokyo on Everest day. He had just finished up five weeks of rugby work and was on his way home. At the time, he had said in an interview, ‘This will make the flight go a bit faster.’
“I was in the Narita Airport in Tokyo making my way back to NZ. I watched it in a corner on my own on my Phone, said, Hansen.
“I felt a wave of emotions really. But the 2 overriding emotions were one of pride in Nature Strip being able to show the world that he was once again the best sprinter in the world.
“Secondly a real feeling satisfaction. Chris (Waller), Mac (jockey, James McDonald) and all the staff have done a tremendous job getting Nature Strip to achieve the result as he has had problems in the past with Allergies in the spring where he hasn’t been able to show his best so (I) felt really pleased and happy for them.
“They love the horse as much as we do.
“To be honest it’s just a privilege and an honour to be lucky enough to own a horse as good as he is,” he said.
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Hansen is part of a 17-strong owners’ group including Peter Kean, a former chief executive of Lion Nathan and NZ Rugby board member.
It was Nature Strip’s third attempt at the race after two unplaced efforts and took its earnings to nearly A$15 million with its 18th win from 33 starts. Trained by New Zealander Chris Waller, Nature Strip was ridden by Kiwi jockey James McDonald to land the world’s richest race on turf.
“He has done it on the biggest day and won the championship. It’s very special because he is a horse that deserves to have that accolade,” Waller said.
Said McDonald: “I never imagined getting to the fence and the front. From there I just let him be Nature Strip, and when you do that they just don’t beat him.
“They get close, but they don’t beat him.”
Although an airport is not a place to celebrate Nature Strip’s phenomenal achievement, Hansen tried his best.
“I was on my own, so I immediately rang my wife we relived the moment for a while.
“Then over the next hour or so I spoke to family and friends. I got 100’s of text messages so tried to answer all of them.
“Finally, the airport check-in opened (about two hours later) so I checked in and went to the lounge where I had a quiet drink or three,” says Hansen conspiratorially.
Nature Strip, pending a positive recovery from The Everest, will have his next start in the A$2m Group 1 VRC Sprint Classic at Flemington. Although one of the greatest coaches in the world when it comes to Rugby, Hansen defers to Waller when deciding what's best for their star sprinter.
“Chris is the man when it comes to what we do next, although it sounds most likely we will head down to Melbourne for the Darley Classic,” said Hansen.