Nature Strip Takes Lightning Stakes

Gifted horsewoman Jamie Kah arrived on the world stage as a jockey Feb. 13 when she steered the sometimes troublesome Nature Strip to victory in the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes (G1) at Flemington.

A highly accomplished equestrian with Olympic aspirations, Kah has a fierce reputation for getting the best out of difficult horses and her unique skills came to the fore as she softly guided the 6-year-old gelding down the Flemington straight.

After moving clear with 300 meters to run, Nature Strip had enough left in reserve to see off the challenge of his fast-finishing stablemate September Run by half a length. Swats That was another 1 1/4 lengths away in third.

"What a horse, he's just unbelievable. That was amazing, it really was. Honestly, I just let him do whatever he wanted to do. He relaxed and dropped the bit and it set it up beautifully for him," said Kah.

It was the fourth group 1 success for 25-year-old Kah who currently leads the Melbourne jockey's premiership by a staggering 20 wins. 

It was also her first major win for champion Sydney trainer Chris Waller for whom she'd only ridden twice previously. 

"To get on a horse like this for Chris Waller, I just couldn't imagine it," she said.

Shortly after dismounting, an emotional Kah, who rode a treble at headquarters Saturday having taken the opener on Quantum Mechanic, as well as partnering Zou Dancer to victory in the TAB Vanity Stakes (G3), was in awe of the horse she had earlier described as "like riding a Ferrari."

"In his work and trials he does everything so effortlessly. He was in a great mood today and he was when I trialed him. He's getting better with age," she said.

It was the fifth group 1 win for Nature Strip who is Widden Stud stallion Nicconi's biggest flag bearer in Australia.

The 2019-20 Australian Horse of the Year's career record now stands at 15 wins from 28 starts and he's banked more than AU$6 million.

Waller, who watched the race from Randwick, was thrilled to see Nature Strip return to the group 1 winner's circle for the first time since landing the TAB T. J. Smith Stakes (G1) last April.

"It was satisfying. We've made everybody aware that he was hard to get right in the spring and a few things went against him in his races," Waller said.

"A horse like him needs everything to go right. It was a well-judged effort and it's good to have him back.

"It's a lot of hard work behind the scenes that goes into these types of horses from a lot of people. It was an exciting race to watch."

While much of the spotlight fell on Nature Strip Saturday, September Run's effort signaled an exciting autumn campaign ahead.

Waller confirmed last spring's Coolmore Stud Stakes (G1) winner will return to Flemington for a tilt at the Newmarket Handicap (G1) in three weeks' time.