Brilliant Blast
June 17th 2009 05:37
Seldom has a 3/4 length victory been as impressive - or devastating in its sheer brilliance - than was Scenic Blast in victory in the Group One King’s Stand Stakes (5 furlongs) at Royal Ascot.
(photo: PA)
The speculation preceding the race centred around Scenic Blast drawing ‘the wrong side’ of the straight track in barrier 15. Drawing the ‘wrong side’ is something all too familiar in straight track racing at Flemington in Melbourne, where Scenic Blast was to defy any bias to register two brilliant victories in the Melbourne Autumn in the premier sprint events of the Group One Lightning Stakes (1000m) and the Group One Newmarket Handicap (1200m).
Scenic Blast is very well suited to straight track racing. His only, although unlucky failure in the Autumn was in the 1100m Group One Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield - around a turn. Tightened and checked. Down straight tracks Scenic Blast is allowed to cruise at his leisure before being eased (even to the tail of the field if necessary) into clear ground and producing spectacular sectional (or closing) sprints. Around a turn he needs to find cover - then clear running - before then circumnavigate the turn and unleashing his sprint. He is a superior straight track horse.
As it eventuated the field did not split as some had expected and this allowed Scenic Blast to settle near the rear of the field - as is his preference - before moving into clear galloping room down the centre of the track.
Steven Arnold admitted later that he may have allowed Scenic Blast to get to the front too soon - but the horse moved so easily through the field under his own steam that when Steven Arnold ‘pressed the button’ the race appeared over at the halfway point.
The runner-up Fleeting Spirit closed strongly late to get within a length. Her placing would add merit to the performance of Scenic Blast as she was placed 3rd last year in the same race when starting a short priced favourite and finishing within a length of Equiano, with Takeover Target 2nd. This year Equiano could do no better than 8th -while Takeover Target is being saved for the Golden Jubilee Stakes next Saturday.
Scenic Blast will not attempt to back up and instead will proceed with the plan devised by trainer Dan Morton and race next in the July Cup. To those in England not familiar with Scenic Blast they may think that the apparent closing effort of Fleeting Spirit would indicate that he is vulnerable over more ground. Nothing could be further from the point. Scenic Blast needs to be very fresh to race over 1000m. Considering that he is a Group One placegetter over 1600m behind champion performer Weekend Hussler he is well suited by the additional trip of the July Cup.
Scenic Blast announced his arrival as a champion sprinter when he won the Lightning Stakes second up during his Autumn campaign. This race was expected to be a match race between champions Weekend Hussler (6-4 fav) and Apache Cat (15-4). Neither would be placed.
That was the first occasion that Scenic Blast had managed to beat Weekend Hussler in 4 starts - losing at 1200m; 1400m & 1600m. But now Scenic Blast is a world class champion sprinter - and Weekend Hussler will be out to resurrect a career after a fruitless Spring where it was attempted to turn him into a stayer. It makes you wonder how different it may have been if Weekend Hussler was kept for races between 1200 - 1600m.
I was looking forward to the clash between Scenic Blast and the Hungarian champion Overdose ever since Dan Morton accepted the invitation to run at Royal Ascot. But unfortunately Overdose missed running after developing a hoof infection. Now that would have been a race. The champion speedster clashing with the champion closer. Sustained speed against the fastest sectional speed. Maybe another time.
Scenic Blast has now won two legs of the Global Sprint Challenge. A win in Hong Kong or Japan later this year will earn connections and additional $US1 million bonus. This now looks very achievable.
At this time there is very little between three champion Australian sprinters (Scenic Blast; Takeover Target and Apache Cat) on speedfigures. On soft ground Takeover Target has managed to produce the best sprint speedfigures for 2009. His only failure this campaign was last start on firm ground in Singapore. The pillage of the English sprint races may not be over yet.
Scenic Blast won the Group One Newmarket Handicap @ $12.50 - but he was top rated by Speedratings and did have the best speed performances for the race.
A replay of The King’s Stand Stakes for 2009:
Scenic Blast winning King's Stand Stakes
(photo: PA)
The speculation preceding the race centred around Scenic Blast drawing ‘the wrong side’ of the straight track in barrier 15. Drawing the ‘wrong side’ is something all too familiar in straight track racing at Flemington in Melbourne, where Scenic Blast was to defy any bias to register two brilliant victories in the Melbourne Autumn in the premier sprint events of the Group One Lightning Stakes (1000m) and the Group One Newmarket Handicap (1200m).
Scenic Blast is very well suited to straight track racing. His only, although unlucky failure in the Autumn was in the 1100m Group One Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield - around a turn. Tightened and checked. Down straight tracks Scenic Blast is allowed to cruise at his leisure before being eased (even to the tail of the field if necessary) into clear ground and producing spectacular sectional (or closing) sprints. Around a turn he needs to find cover - then clear running - before then circumnavigate the turn and unleashing his sprint. He is a superior straight track horse.
As it eventuated the field did not split as some had expected and this allowed Scenic Blast to settle near the rear of the field - as is his preference - before moving into clear galloping room down the centre of the track.
Steven Arnold admitted later that he may have allowed Scenic Blast to get to the front too soon - but the horse moved so easily through the field under his own steam that when Steven Arnold ‘pressed the button’ the race appeared over at the halfway point.
The runner-up Fleeting Spirit closed strongly late to get within a length. Her placing would add merit to the performance of Scenic Blast as she was placed 3rd last year in the same race when starting a short priced favourite and finishing within a length of Equiano, with Takeover Target 2nd. This year Equiano could do no better than 8th -while Takeover Target is being saved for the Golden Jubilee Stakes next Saturday.
Scenic Blast will not attempt to back up and instead will proceed with the plan devised by trainer Dan Morton and race next in the July Cup. To those in England not familiar with Scenic Blast they may think that the apparent closing effort of Fleeting Spirit would indicate that he is vulnerable over more ground. Nothing could be further from the point. Scenic Blast needs to be very fresh to race over 1000m. Considering that he is a Group One placegetter over 1600m behind champion performer Weekend Hussler he is well suited by the additional trip of the July Cup.
Scenic Blast announced his arrival as a champion sprinter when he won the Lightning Stakes second up during his Autumn campaign. This race was expected to be a match race between champions Weekend Hussler (6-4 fav) and Apache Cat (15-4). Neither would be placed.
That was the first occasion that Scenic Blast had managed to beat Weekend Hussler in 4 starts - losing at 1200m; 1400m & 1600m. But now Scenic Blast is a world class champion sprinter - and Weekend Hussler will be out to resurrect a career after a fruitless Spring where it was attempted to turn him into a stayer. It makes you wonder how different it may have been if Weekend Hussler was kept for races between 1200 - 1600m.
I was looking forward to the clash between Scenic Blast and the Hungarian champion Overdose ever since Dan Morton accepted the invitation to run at Royal Ascot. But unfortunately Overdose missed running after developing a hoof infection. Now that would have been a race. The champion speedster clashing with the champion closer. Sustained speed against the fastest sectional speed. Maybe another time.
Scenic Blast has now won two legs of the Global Sprint Challenge. A win in Hong Kong or Japan later this year will earn connections and additional $US1 million bonus. This now looks very achievable.
At this time there is very little between three champion Australian sprinters (Scenic Blast; Takeover Target and Apache Cat) on speedfigures. On soft ground Takeover Target has managed to produce the best sprint speedfigures for 2009. His only failure this campaign was last start on firm ground in Singapore. The pillage of the English sprint races may not be over yet.
Scenic Blast won the Group One Newmarket Handicap @ $12.50 - but he was top rated by Speedratings and did have the best speed performances for the race.
A replay of The King’s Stand Stakes for 2009:
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