The managing part-owner of Nature Strip says the build-up to Royal Ascot is akin to the Melbourne Cup or The Everest.
As a Melburnian, Rod Lyons knows what that is like, having been a part of Melbourne Cup Day previously while he has had Nature Strip run in the past three Everests.
Nature Strip runs in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes (1000m) on the opening of the Royal Ascot meeting with the race timed to run at 12.40am Wednesday (Australian Eastern Time).
Lyons said there was a cheer squad of around 30, owners, families and friend, to watch Nature Strip hopefully bring home a victory.
“Everyone’s talking about Royal Ascot, everyone’s thinking about it, doing the form,” Lyons told RSN.
“In the local pubs, the guys all want to know about Royal Ascot, the papers have it everywhere.
“It gets you more and more anxious and nervous as the day approaches.”
Lyons said discussions with trainer Chris Waller have pointed to everything going to plan to date.
Nature Strip put on weight, a rarity, on the flight from Australian to the UK and had worked well on the Ascot straight course last Friday.
“He looked like poetry in motion,” Lyons said.
“Chris is happy with the draw. I did walk the track with the course ranger, and he thinks they will come up the centre of the track, which is good for where we are.”
US sprinter Golden Pal looks the danger and Lyons said he cannot be treated lightly.
But Lyons pointed out Golden Pal had run twice in England, for two defeats.
“Golden Pal is a very fast horse, and the guy (Wesley Ward) is a very good trainer,” Lyons said.
“Nature Strip can take 100 to 150 metres to hit his stride so there is no way that we will lead him.
“I think we’ll be sitting off him in his slipstream hopefully and in the last 200 put the pressure on.”