“A number of my mates told me what a terrible judge I was, and gave me heaps for going the early bad crow,” Lyons said.
“I had to cop it on the chin because I was proved an idiot.”
Nature Strip managing owner Rod Lyons holds the 2019 Champion Sprint trophy at Flemington alongside trainer Chris Waller, left, and jockey James McDonald.Credit: Getty Images
This time around, Lyons is not going to make the same mistake. He has nothing but praise for Dwyer and the Asfoora connections as they head back to Royal Ascot to defend her crown. She will do battle with the UK’s best sprinters early Wednesday morning (12.40am AEST).
“I think Henry has 72 people going over again this year,” Lyons said.
“It is fantastic for them. I think it is fantastic for Australian racing, and it was a tongue-in-cheek comment last year which made me look a bit foolish, but I wish them all the best.”
Lyons said he sent last year’s message after a regular Friday lunch, and accompanying beers, at a pub he part owns at Main Ridge, called The Pig & Whistle.
King Charles and Ballarat horse trainer Henry Dwyer at Royal Ascot.Credit: AP
“My comments were on a Friday night after I was coming home from the pub,” he said.
“I never normally go on that social media stuff. I don’t know how I got on it. I must have pressed the button by mistake.”
While Lyons went public, he was not alone in thinking Dwyer’s mare, who had not won a group 1 in Australia, would struggle to win abroad.
“I just think the quality of horse that has gone over there to win those races, right back to Takeover Target and Choisir, you know, all those horses they were just terrific, and of course Nature Strip,” he said.
James McDonald punches the air as Nature Strip wins The King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.Credit: Getty
“I thought you had to be a real A-plus horse to win over there, and while she was a good honest mare, she certainly was not A-plus, so I didn’t think she would be up to it, to be quite honest.”
But Lyons said Asfoora had elevated herself into the A-plus class by winning the King Charles Stakes last year.
“I hope they can go out and do it again and make Australia proud again,” he said.
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Lyons was at Royal Ascot in 2022, relishing the attention from the English hierarchy, when Nature Strip won the King Charles Stakes. He was trained by Chris Waller and ridden by James McDonald.
“The biggest thrill of my life. Over The Everest,” he said.
“The Everest is worth a lot more money and the Champion Sprint (at Flemington in the spring) – he won 22 races and nine group 1s – but that win over there, for less money, was fantastic.
“I’m sure everyone who has been over there, including all these guys, just the pomp and ceremony and the beautiful racecourse, it’s just a buzz.”
Lyons plans to be sitting by the television throughout the three nights of the Royal Ascot carnival, especially when Asfoora defends her crown.
“I will stay awake as long as I can, and I will tape what I don’t see, and watch it again,” he said.
“Just seeing the Royal carriage come down the straight, I’m an Aussie, and I’m not really a royalist, my dad was Irish, I don’t have a great love for the royal family, but it was terrific. It sends shivers down your spine.”
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