Although he couldn’t be on course at Randwick on Saturday to take in the sights, sounds and atmosphere of a truly special raceday, Peter Kean made sure he and his family made it a day to remember when Nature Strip (Nicconi)won the A$15 million The Everest (1200m).
Kean and several of his Kiwi mates, including former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, share in the ownership of the star sprinter.
Trained by ex-pat Chris Waller, Nature Strip was ridden by Kiwi jockey James McDonald to land the world’s richest race on turf.
COVID-19 travel restrictions prevented the majority of the ownership group being there to celebrate with the 10,000 strong Sydney crowd, the first major event in the city since lockdown restrictions were removed by the state government.
Kean along with his wife, son, daughter and their respective partners gathered at the Kean’s Auckland property to watch the event in their lockdown bubble, resplendent in their formal racewear including hats and fascinators to hopefully cheer home a winner.
That dream came true at Nature Strip’s third attempt at the race and had an emotional Kean nearly lost for words as the seven-year-old son of Nicconi held out a late charge from runner-up Masked Crusader (Toronado) to take the lion’s share of the massive purse —A$6,749,000 and advance his career earnings to just shy of A$15 million.
“As I’ve said to a few people this morning (Sunday), I’m feeling a bit dusty, but that dust is filled with gold,” Kean said.
“We’ve got a pretty good wine collection here and a few bottles of bubbly in the fridge, but as the former managing director of Lion Beer, Spirits & Wine New Zealand, I stayed loyal to the brand with a few Steinlagers and then a few more.
“It certainly would have been a magic occasion to be at Randwick for the raceday and take it all in, but in its own way it was still very special just being here with your loved ones.
“They have seen the rollercoaster of a journey we have had with this horse and I don’t mind saying that even if he had finished second or back in the pack, I would still call him a champion.
“I think the real beauty of yesterday was we had more time to enjoy it as when you are on-course you are trying to get around everyone and you don’t get to take it all in.
“Yesterday we all got dressed up and just made it a special moment for us as a family.”
Kean admitted he was feeling as confident as you could be leading into a race that had provided plenty of heartbreak for Nature Strip in the last two years, especially with the messages the syndicate were receiving from Waller during the week.
“Chris said it was an unusual thing to say when the horse is now seven years old, but he has really matured and the campaign had gone very smoothly,” he said.
“Last year he dropped James in a trial leading into the race, and he had been having breathing problems and the like, but this year there was none of that.
“Chris did say he didn’t want to over promise, but he felt it was going to take a very good horse to beat him.
“I know James was feeling that confidence and I thought he did a terrific job on the horse as he didn’t get it all his own way in the early stages.
“The horse over-raced a little and the early sectionals were quicker than he wanted, but he made sure he had enough in the tank to get him home in a tight finish.
Photo Credit: Bradleyphotos.com.au
“I know Masked Crusader was coming hard after him, my voice tells me that after the yelling, but it’s a 1200m race not 1210m and James timed it to perfection.”
Kean is now looking forward to seeing Nature Strip perform up to the same level when he tackles the Gr.1 Darley Sprint Classic (1200m) at Flemington on November 6.
“We got a message from Chris this morning and he was naturally cautious about not making any plans for a few days, but he did indicate the horse would most likely to go Flemington for his next run,” Kean said.
“He loves it there so I’m excited to see him go and to see the support he will have now that he has won the big one in Sydney.
“It’s a funny thing but in the past, he has been heavily supported here in New Zealand but seems to have polarised the Aussie fans a little.
“I think he is now the fourth highest stakes earner of all time and they were talking him up as being a once in a lifetime sprinter so he may be going to get the accolades I think he deserves.”
Kean is also looking forward to catching up with his fellow syndicate members and Kiwi mates once the COVID situation in New Zealand allows it and to potentially planning a European excursion next year.
He touched base with a handful of the owners including Steve Hansen, who watched the race from the departure lounge at Tokyo’s Narita Airport.
Hansen, who grew up with horses and at one stage held dreams of being a jockey, has been working as a coaching consultant with Toyota Verblitz in the Japanese Rugby League One.
“I worked out I had over 150 texts after the race and I have tried to reply to them all,” Kean said.
“I managed to speak to Paddy (Harrison), Steve (Hansen) and Rod Lyons, but I can’t wait to catch up with them in person.
“When I spoke to Steve, he was about to board a plane home from Japan and I know it will have been a good trip.
“He had told me earlier in the week he would have a few quiet beers if we won or just be extremely quiet if he got beaten, so I’m glad it was the former.
“Given we can’t be in Sydney or Melbourne at the moment, I’m hoping by the middle of next year the travel and quarantine rules may have changed and we can all get together.
“The horse has been invited to compete at Royal Ascot for the last couple of years, so if we could get another invite for 2022 and be able to travel, then that will be the trip of a lifetime.”