The Group I VRC Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday was billed as a clash of the sprinting titans and so it played out with the young gun Home Affairs scoring a thrilling short half head win over Nature Strip with the ever gallant Eduardo in third place leaving everyone in anticipation for a rematch!
Chris Waller stablemates Home Affairs and Nature Strip were tuned right up for this historic sprint which had not been won by a three year-old colt since 2005, when another Coolmore owned superstar in Fastnet Rock saluted.
The start proved messy with Nature Strip bumped heavily several times after jumping by Profiteer and as a result Jamie Kah had to rethink her race plan for the world champion sprinter which she did with great effect.
While Home Affairs enjoyed a smooth passage up the Flemington straight, Nature Strip had to resettle himself before getting into his rhythm. Home Affairs found himself in front a long way from home and had to dig deep for James McDonald, while Nature Strip hit the line hard late to just miss with the time for the race a slick 56.64 seconds.
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The first half didn't really go to plan to be honest with you, he was just left there, left a sitting duck, and for him to show that much fighting quality and determination and speed is just unbelievable,” said James McDonald.
“It was a stressful situation that last 100 metres but both horses went down fighting. He's an absolute superstar my colt and he knows how to fight.”
Jamie Kah was full of praise for Nature Strip, who won the race last year with Kah on board.
“He was very impressive. He got wiped out at the start and wasn't entitled to run like that. He was very brave,” she said.
International goals may lie ahead for both the winner and runner-up in 2022, but for now Chris Waller is looking at options here in Australia with the Group I Newmarket Handicap the likely next target for Home Affairs.
“It'll depend on weights and things like that. Normally the three-year-olds get in fairly well, respecting the weight-for-age scale,” Waller said.
"They'll be both going home for an ice tub and beach tomorrow and reassess on Monday.”
An $875,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Tom Magnier from the Torryburn Stud draft, Home Affairs runs for a big syndicate headed by Coolmore and various partners and has the overall record of four wins and two placings from eight starts with some $2.2 million in prizemoney.
A half-brother to Group I placed Aysar, Home Affairs was bred by Torryburn Stud and is the second winner from Miss Interiors, a winning half-sister by Flying Spur to dual Group I winner and sire Russian Revolution and Group III winner Turbo Miss.
Torryburn Stud sold the two year-old Capitalist colt from Miss Interiors for $1,050,000 at Inglis Easter last year to James Harron Bloodstock and he has been named Wilbury.
Miss Interiors has a yearling colt by Dundeel that will be offered at Inglis Easter as Lot 291 and produced another filly by the same sire last spring before going back to I Am Invincible.
The win of Home Affairs has propelled Yarraman Park’s champion sire I Am Invincible to the top of the Australian General Sires List by earnings and winners.
