He may frustrate a lot of punters with his enigmatic style of racing, but when he is on song NATURE STRIP (Nicconi – Strikeline) is the best racehorse on the planet.
And that’s not me talking, that’s what was just announced by the esteemed Longines World Rankings group.
The Chris Waller-trained speedster leads all racehorses in the world, as compiled by the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities (IFHA).
For the period starting 1 January and ending 9 May this year, Nature Strip rated 123, highest in the world with Saturday’s raging Gr 1 Doomben 10,000 favourite EDUARDO (Host – Blueing) back in equal 4th place, level with the great European star ADDEYBB (Pivotal – Bush Cat), who we know knocks over Verry Elleegant to win the Gr 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes in April.
The accolade for Nature Strip is a huge push for Australian racing and confirms what we’ve always believed – that being this sprinter is a freak when he wants to be.
His last start trouncing of rising star MASKED CRUSADER (Toronado -She’s Got Gears) and Eduardo in the Gr 1 TJ Smith took his career record to 30 starts for 16 wins and 5 placings, accumulating $8,026,685 in prizemoney.
That form can only be franked by Eduardo this Saturday.
Longines World’s Best Racehorse Rankings:
| Ranking | Surface | Horse | Trainer | Trained |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | T | Nature Strip (AUS) | Chris Waller | AUS |
| 2 | D/T | Mishriff (IRE) | John Gosden | GB |
| 2 | D | Mystic Guide (USA) | Michael Stidham | USA |
| 4 | T | Addeybb (IRE) | William Haggas | GB |
| 4 | T | Eduardo (AUS) | Joseph Pride | AUS |
| 4 | T | Palace Pier (GB) | John & Thady Gosden | GB |
| 7 | D | Charlatan (USA) | Bob Baffert | USA |
| 7 | T | Efforia (JPN) | Yuichi Shikato | JPN |
| 7 | T | Exultant (IRE) (ex Irishcorrespondent) | Tony Cruz | HK |
| 7 | T | Golden Sixty (AUS) | Francis Lui | HK |
| 7 | T | Glory Vase (JPN) | Tomohito Ozeki | JPN |
| 7 | D | Life Is Good (USA) | Bob Baffert | USA |
| 7 | T | Lord North (IRE) | John Gosden | GB |
| 7 | D | Monomoy Girl (USA) | Brad Cox | USA |
| 7 | T | Skalleti (FR) | Jerome Reynier | FR |