Trinity
December 24th 2009 03:24
It was less than two weeks ago when the sprinting trinity of Australia’s best short-course horses was expected to produce the winner of the Hong Kong International Sprint at Sha Tin. Only the Australian-bred Sacred Kingdom was given any chance of disrupting expectations.
(photo: Neil Murray)
As it turned out Sacred Kingdom did prevail - with other local horses filling the placings.
Who would have guessed just these few weeks later the ramifications of this race. I wonder where all of the clairvoyants and seers are when twists and turns of expectations produce such outcomes. A career could be made on such a prediction.
Apache Cat:
Slowly away and closer to the rear of the field than the front, this remarkable sprinter finished bravely to be the first Australian trained horse home. At some point in running he suffered a career ending injury. He is now retired.
All Silent:
A chequered run in transit. Nick Hall riding for luck - and only finding impediment and obstacle to stifle his (usual) withering finishing burst. He will return to Australia and campaign on in 2010 - one of few horses with the ability to vie for the title of Australia’s Champion Racehorse. My expectations are that - apart from the straight track at Flemington - this horse is a superior miler. His peak speedfigures are set at 1600m. Straight track racing has always suited horses adept at longer trips. The Flemington straight 1200 metres always considered to be suited to a sharp miler - such as All Silent. I believe his future lies at 1400 to 1600 metres.
Scenic Blast:
Australia’s current Horse of the Year bled profusely at Sha Tin. Since his electric exploits down the straight tracks of Flemington (the Group One Lightning Stakes 1000m - and Group One Newmarket Handicap 1200m) and Royal Ascot (King’s Stand Stakes Group One 1000m) he has had a torrid time in sprints in Japan, and finally in Hong Kong.
Senior part-owner Elio Galante has made a wise decision to pursue a racing career with Scenic Blast in the US - under the care of trainer John Shirreffs, who has guided champion mare Zenyatta to the greatest of heights.
The ability to use Lasix in the US to treat Scenic Blast is the fundamental reason for this decision to relocate. Scenic Blast was banned from racing for three months after bleeding in Hong Kong.
“He won’t race here again. He’ll carry the flag for Australia in America and be a great advertisement for our racing.” - “Elio Galante, as reported to the Thoroughbred Times.
“If they can get more out of him up there, well and good. It was a serious bleed that he had and no one likes to see that happen, obviously.” - current trainer Dan Morton, as reported to the Thoroughbred Times.
After a well deserved spell I would expect Scenic Blast to acclimatise well to US racing. He will appreciate the consistent speed in the races - a slow early tempo often his downfall in Australia. Although better down a straight track as a sprinter, the style of racing should enable him to race up to his best in the US. But don’t be surprised to see a fit and well Scenic Blast be extended out to a mile trip where he can be equally as effective.
One minute Australia has three champion sprinters. The next moment we are left only with a champion miler.
The 2009 Hong Kong International Sprint won by Sacred Kingdom:
Apache Cat with D. Oliver aboard
(photo: Neil Murray)
As it turned out Sacred Kingdom did prevail - with other local horses filling the placings.
Who would have guessed just these few weeks later the ramifications of this race. I wonder where all of the clairvoyants and seers are when twists and turns of expectations produce such outcomes. A career could be made on such a prediction.
Apache Cat:
Slowly away and closer to the rear of the field than the front, this remarkable sprinter finished bravely to be the first Australian trained horse home. At some point in running he suffered a career ending injury. He is now retired.
All Silent:
A chequered run in transit. Nick Hall riding for luck - and only finding impediment and obstacle to stifle his (usual) withering finishing burst. He will return to Australia and campaign on in 2010 - one of few horses with the ability to vie for the title of Australia’s Champion Racehorse. My expectations are that - apart from the straight track at Flemington - this horse is a superior miler. His peak speedfigures are set at 1600m. Straight track racing has always suited horses adept at longer trips. The Flemington straight 1200 metres always considered to be suited to a sharp miler - such as All Silent. I believe his future lies at 1400 to 1600 metres.
Scenic Blast:
Australia’s current Horse of the Year bled profusely at Sha Tin. Since his electric exploits down the straight tracks of Flemington (the Group One Lightning Stakes 1000m - and Group One Newmarket Handicap 1200m) and Royal Ascot (King’s Stand Stakes Group One 1000m) he has had a torrid time in sprints in Japan, and finally in Hong Kong.
Senior part-owner Elio Galante has made a wise decision to pursue a racing career with Scenic Blast in the US - under the care of trainer John Shirreffs, who has guided champion mare Zenyatta to the greatest of heights.
The ability to use Lasix in the US to treat Scenic Blast is the fundamental reason for this decision to relocate. Scenic Blast was banned from racing for three months after bleeding in Hong Kong.
“He won’t race here again. He’ll carry the flag for Australia in America and be a great advertisement for our racing.” - “Elio Galante, as reported to the Thoroughbred Times.
“If they can get more out of him up there, well and good. It was a serious bleed that he had and no one likes to see that happen, obviously.” - current trainer Dan Morton, as reported to the Thoroughbred Times.
After a well deserved spell I would expect Scenic Blast to acclimatise well to US racing. He will appreciate the consistent speed in the races - a slow early tempo often his downfall in Australia. Although better down a straight track as a sprinter, the style of racing should enable him to race up to his best in the US. But don’t be surprised to see a fit and well Scenic Blast be extended out to a mile trip where he can be equally as effective.
One minute Australia has three champion sprinters. The next moment we are left only with a champion miler.
The 2009 Hong Kong International Sprint won by Sacred Kingdom:
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