Lightning Blast from the West
January 31st 2009 06:35
The Group One Coolmore Lightning Stakes (1000m) run at Flemington today proved to be a race of high drama.
(photo: Nicole Garmston)
Much of the pre-race comment centred around two of Australia’s best horses - Weekend Hussler and Apache Cat. Perhaps if the race had been run over 1200m - or 1400m - it might have been a race where our highest ranked horses could have fought out a finish. But with Weekend Hussler never having won at a distance less than 1100m - and Apache Cat at his best at 1200m to 1400m - there was always the possibility of the unexpected.
West Australian sprinter/miler Scenic Blast was masterly ridden by Stephen Arnold and allowed to settle, then to peel out from behind the ruck and traffic - and find his stride and storm home for a length victory.
Scenic Blast has chased home Weekend Hussler in Group One events (Caulfield Guineas and Ascot Vale Stakes) in their 3 year old campaigns, and has had an interrupted career with injury and throat operations. Scenic Blast is a striking 4 year old son of the wonderful West Australian based stallion Scenic. He is a half brother to the recently deceased outstanding galloper Gilded Venom.
The trainer of Scenic Blast, Danny Morton, is anticipating a strong Autumn campaign from Scenic Blast considering he felt him in need of the run today.
In the space of just a few months the deceased son of Sadler’s Wells, Scenic, has sired the winner of the ultimate staying test of Australia, the Melbourne Cup, with the Bart Cummings trained View - and less than 3 months later Scenic has sired the winner of one of the great sprinting tests of Australia, the Group One 1000m Lightning Stakes. Scenic is sadly missed.
The 1000m was run inside par values with both Scenic Blast (32.44) and Swick (32.53) running exceptionally quick last 600m sectionals.
Ross McDonald blamed pilot error by Brad Rawiller for the defeat of Weekend Hussler. At first blush Weekend Hussler did look disappointing as he struggled to sprint with the leaders from the 500m - but on reviewing replays it becomes evident that the David Hayes trained South African sprinter Seventh Rock was laying all over Weekend Hussler and denying him the opportunity to change gears. The last 100 metres the Hussler got motoring and flew home for equal 4th.
In a smaller field Weekend Hussler may have found the galloping room necessary and would then have went close to winning. But Apache Cat is becoming a horse that runs his race in patches. His future is best served at distances from 1300m to 1400m.
“He had a bit of a rough ride. If he gets a clear run he’s right there.” - Ross McDonald, trainer of Weekend Hussler.
“He’s working super but he’s taking time to get going in his races and only hitting his top at the 100 metres, he’s racing like a seven furlong horse now. “ - Greg Eurell, trainer of Apache Cat.
The riders comments post race:
"He was just going so easily in the run, I only had to get him out and he had them covered, he let down brilliantly,” Steven Arnold on winner Scenic Blast.
“He was really honest he, did plenty of work up front and held on well,” Craig Williams on Typhoon Zed second.
“He tried so hard, I thought I was going to hold them off until the 50 metres,” Dwayne Dunn on Grand Duels third.
“He’ll be much better around a bend but his run was very good,” Kerrin McEvoy on Wilander equal fourth.
“Once he got shut out, it was always going to be hard for him to pick up in time” Brad Rawiller on Weekend Hussler equal fourth.
“He was really good late in the race, his last 400 was very good,” Michael Rodd on Swick sixth.
“He didn’t appreciate being bottled up but he was pretty good in this class of race,” Ken Pope, on Swiss Ace seventh.
“He went great in this grade,” Craig Newitt on Snappy Tom eighth.
“He’s just not sharp enough anymore, he’s racing like a 1400 metre horse,” Corey Brown on Apache Cat ninth.
But I would really like to hear from jockey Anton Marcus on last placed Seventh Rock exactly what happened. His horse never a winning chance - but it did play a decisive role in the result of the race.
Scenic Blast & trainer Danny Morton
(photo: Nicole Garmston)
Much of the pre-race comment centred around two of Australia’s best horses - Weekend Hussler and Apache Cat. Perhaps if the race had been run over 1200m - or 1400m - it might have been a race where our highest ranked horses could have fought out a finish. But with Weekend Hussler never having won at a distance less than 1100m - and Apache Cat at his best at 1200m to 1400m - there was always the possibility of the unexpected.
West Australian sprinter/miler Scenic Blast was masterly ridden by Stephen Arnold and allowed to settle, then to peel out from behind the ruck and traffic - and find his stride and storm home for a length victory.
Scenic Blast has chased home Weekend Hussler in Group One events (Caulfield Guineas and Ascot Vale Stakes) in their 3 year old campaigns, and has had an interrupted career with injury and throat operations. Scenic Blast is a striking 4 year old son of the wonderful West Australian based stallion Scenic. He is a half brother to the recently deceased outstanding galloper Gilded Venom.
The trainer of Scenic Blast, Danny Morton, is anticipating a strong Autumn campaign from Scenic Blast considering he felt him in need of the run today.
In the space of just a few months the deceased son of Sadler’s Wells, Scenic, has sired the winner of the ultimate staying test of Australia, the Melbourne Cup, with the Bart Cummings trained View - and less than 3 months later Scenic has sired the winner of one of the great sprinting tests of Australia, the Group One 1000m Lightning Stakes. Scenic is sadly missed.
The 1000m was run inside par values with both Scenic Blast (32.44) and Swick (32.53) running exceptionally quick last 600m sectionals.
Ross McDonald blamed pilot error by Brad Rawiller for the defeat of Weekend Hussler. At first blush Weekend Hussler did look disappointing as he struggled to sprint with the leaders from the 500m - but on reviewing replays it becomes evident that the David Hayes trained South African sprinter Seventh Rock was laying all over Weekend Hussler and denying him the opportunity to change gears. The last 100 metres the Hussler got motoring and flew home for equal 4th.
In a smaller field Weekend Hussler may have found the galloping room necessary and would then have went close to winning. But Apache Cat is becoming a horse that runs his race in patches. His future is best served at distances from 1300m to 1400m.
“He had a bit of a rough ride. If he gets a clear run he’s right there.” - Ross McDonald, trainer of Weekend Hussler.
“He’s working super but he’s taking time to get going in his races and only hitting his top at the 100 metres, he’s racing like a seven furlong horse now. “ - Greg Eurell, trainer of Apache Cat.
The riders comments post race:
"He was just going so easily in the run, I only had to get him out and he had them covered, he let down brilliantly,” Steven Arnold on winner Scenic Blast.
“He was really honest he, did plenty of work up front and held on well,” Craig Williams on Typhoon Zed second.
“He tried so hard, I thought I was going to hold them off until the 50 metres,” Dwayne Dunn on Grand Duels third.
“He’ll be much better around a bend but his run was very good,” Kerrin McEvoy on Wilander equal fourth.
“Once he got shut out, it was always going to be hard for him to pick up in time” Brad Rawiller on Weekend Hussler equal fourth.
“He was really good late in the race, his last 400 was very good,” Michael Rodd on Swick sixth.
“He didn’t appreciate being bottled up but he was pretty good in this class of race,” Ken Pope, on Swiss Ace seventh.
“He went great in this grade,” Craig Newitt on Snappy Tom eighth.
“He’s just not sharp enough anymore, he’s racing like a 1400 metre horse,” Corey Brown on Apache Cat ninth.
But I would really like to hear from jockey Anton Marcus on last placed Seventh Rock exactly what happened. His horse never a winning chance - but it did play a decisive role in the result of the race.
| 70 |
| Vote |
subscribe to this blog
Comment by David O'Connell
Screen Fanatic
Comment by Leonard Marlborough
Racing Write
From my understanding Seventh Rock is a 'straight track specialist'. He hangs like crazy. They originally planned to take him to the grandstand rail (wish they had). Not sure if it will get much better (or easier) for him from here on.
Comment by Anonymous
The jockey quotes appeared on Racenet - either attribute them or don't use them at all.