Jack Van Duuren is terminally unwell with lung most cancers however it gained’t cease him from being trackside to look at his champion sprinter Nature Strip contest the $15 million The TAB Everest at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
He’s defying professional medical opinion simply to be there after being advised by his docs a yr in the past he had solely weeks to reside.
He’s simply endured one other spherical of chemotherapy therapy and its debilitating negative effects so he can watch Nature Strip race once more. “This horse is maintaining me alive,” Van Duuren stated. “Nature Strip has been an incredible tonic.”
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The 76-year-old part-owner is a realist and is aware of his prognosis is bleak – however he’s additionally a fighter.
It was Everest week final yr when Van Duuren was first recognized. His physician was matter-of-fact: “You will have 4 to 6 weeks.”
Simply three days later, a desperately unwell and wheelchair-bound Van Duuren willed himself to go to The Everest at Royal Randwick and watched on proudly as Nature Strip held on to beat Masked Crusader and Eduardo.
On the time, he thought this might be the final time he would see Nature Strip race.
However at Royal Randwick on Saturday, Nature Strip is again as sizzling favorite to win the $15 million The TAB Everest – and Jack will likely be there too.
Within the 12 months since Nature Strip gained The Everest, the nice sprinter has additionally gained a 3rd successive TJ Smith Stakes, was dominant in The Shorts and, famously, gained the King’s Stand Stakes at England’s Royal Ascot assembly.
Van Duuren has watched most of Nature Strip’s races throughout this time. He even travelled to England for Royal Ascot.
“The very first thing we did after we flew to England was flip left on the aircraft and we saved going till we acquired a First Class cabin,” he stated.
“It was terrific and travelling over wasn’t an issue however coming residence was the arduous bit. To observe Nature Strip win at Royal Ascot was the chance of a lifetime.”
However Van Duuren admitted there have been darkish days, and lots of of them, since he was recognized.
“I inform you what, the most important drawback other than the bodily stuff which does knock you round a bit, is you need to recover from the psychological aspect of it,” he stated.
“Some days, you get up and also you say ‘bugger, that is no good’.
“However then you definitely begin to think about all the nice issues which have occurred within the final 12 months and I feel I’m going okay.”
Rod Lyons, a part-owner of Nature Strip, stated watching his shut good friend battle with most cancers is regarding but additionally inspiring.
“It’s God’s means or no matter,” Lyons stated. “However they gave Jack six weeks and now it’s 12 months. He’s not taking a backward step.”
Lyons is for certain Nature Strip’s success has given Van Duuren the need to reside.
“When Jack is admittedly criminal or actually down, he’ll name me and discuss Nature Strip,” Lyons stated. “I’m positive the horse is giving him a cause to reside, to maintain preventing.”
When Nature Strip gained at Royal Ascot, the possession group celebrated their success and Van Duuren partied as arduous as anybody.
“Jack’s an enormous drinker and loves his whisky,” Lyons stated. “He’s not taking a backward step.”
Chris Waller, the coach of Nature Strip, is in awe of Van Duuren’s constructive outlook within the face of such adversity.
“It’s a tremendous story,” Waller stated. “What a fighter Jack is. He retains going to his remedies, retains his morale up and boosts everybody else’s on the similar time.”
Nature Strip, the world’s quantity one-ranked sprinter, is the most well liked favorite within the Everest historical past at $1.90 in newest betting.
The champion chestnut’s preparation for the world’s richest turf race has gone like clockwork – and so has Van Duuren’s for that matter.
“I’m trying ahead to the Everest,” Van Duuren stated. “I’m psyching myself up.
“I’ve achieved all my chemotherapy remedies the final two weeks and I’m able to rock n roll on the Everest.
“I completed ‘chemo’ final week and I do know I can’t do this for an additional six months however I’m going to maintain preventing. It’s about 12 months in the past since I used to be recognized they usually gave me four-six weeks however then I got here good. I really feel very blessed, very blessed.”
Nature Strip is contesting a report fourth Everest, a exceptional testomony to the sprinter’s longevity at racing’s elite degree.
And similar to part-owner Jack Van Duuren, Nature Strip is defying the percentages as a result of regardless of his advancing years – the gelding is now an eight-year-old – he’s racing in career-best type.
“That is the fourth yr Nature Strip has run within the Everest and final yr was the massive one when he gained,” Van Duuren stated.
“We’re again once more and, though issues can all the time go mistaken in racing, everyone knows in regards to the highs and lows on this sport, if he’s on his sport then nothing ought to beat him.
“The Everest is a improbable expertise and I will likely be there on Saturday in my bloody wheelchair with bells on.
“Thoughts you, I might dearly swap an Everest for not having lung most cancers however it’s to not be.
“I’m very content material with life and I’m simply trying ahead to being there at The Everest once more,” Van Duuren stated.
Initially printed as Champion sprinter offers sick part-owner Jack Van Duuren the power to maintain preventing
