Royal Ascot Memories: Scenic Blast

On the morning of June 16, 2009–the opening day of Royal Ascot–Australian trainer Daniel Morton, who was normally quite reserved when he had a runner engaged in a feature race, was brimming with confidence, the then 37-year-old smiling from ear to ear. Morton had favourite Scenic Blast (Aus) (Scenic {Ire}) entered in the G1 King's Stand S.

It was the trainer's first trip away with a horse, and everything had gone to plan. Scenic Blast's wonderful temperament made him the perfect horse to travel. He settled in well in the UK, eating up and impressing in his work. He was fit and raring to go.

Given the enormity of the occasion, Morton's nerves were surprisingly under control, and he couldn't have been happier.

“I was confident, without being cocky,” he recalled. “I'm normally fairly conservative, but I was really bullish about his chances because I was riding him in trackwork while he was over there. I thought he was really humming going into the race.”

Just hours before the race, though, Morton took a phone call, which changed his mood completely.

“I was in the car on the way to the track. We had a driver taking myself and two of my mates to the races,” Morton explained. “I got a phone call to say that they hadn't received his papers or his ID card and he couldn't start without it. The guy that was looking after us said 'don't panic, I don't think they're going to scratch you, you're favourite.'”

Much to his trainer's relief, Scenic Blast's papers were faxed through to the racecourse before it was too late. Morton was able to relax. Sort of.

The Australian conditioner was adamant he had his charge cherry ripe for the £300,000 race, but Morton had been in the sport long enough to know that they don't hand out Group 1s.

“I knew he was an excellent chance if things panned out for us in the race,” he said.

Scenic Blast had prepped for the race in sparkling form. He won the G1 Lightning S. up the Flemington straight in January before finishing a close-up fifth in the G1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield three weeks later. Back to Flemington for his next start, Scenic Blast scored a brilliant victory in the G1 Newmarket H., becoming the 11th horse to complete the Lightning S./ Newmarket H. double.

Aiming to emulate the deeds of Choisir (Aus) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) (2003), Takeover Target (Aus) (Celtic Swing {GB}) (2006) and Miss Andretti (Aus) (Ihtiram {Ire}) (2007) as Australian winners of the race, the 5-year-old was sent out the 11-4 favorite. After breaking from the widest gate (15), Scenic Blast stalked the field before heavyweight Australian jockey Steven Arnold pushed the go button at the 400 metre mark. As soon as he did, Scenic Blast displayed a devastating burst of speed to gap his rivals. He thwarted the late challenge of Fleeting Spirit (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) to score by 3/4 of a length.

A jubilant Morton proudly waved a small Australian flag in the winner's enclosure.

“All of the owners were there; we got thoroughly spoiled, we were very well looked after,” Morton said. “They ended up giving us a double private box upstairs, about four doors down from The Queen's private box. We made a fair bit of noise, they knew we were there.”

A son of Scenic, who dead-heated with Prince Of Dance (GB) in the 1988 Dewhurst S. at Newmarket in England, out of the Group 1-placed Delgado mare Daughter's Charm (Aus), Scenic Blast was knocked down to Morton for A$85,000 at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale in 2006.

Morton said he knew the horse was special the first time he sat on him. Despite Scenic Blast having not yet raced, Morton called part-owner Elio Galante and told him, 'this is a superstar.'

Scenic Blast was named Australian Racehorse of the Year in 2008-09 and raced until he was seven. The explosive sprinter, who also competed in Japan, Hong Kong and America, was retired in 2012 after fracturing his near side hind leg in a trackwork gallop. He bowed out with eight wins (three Group 1s) and 12 minor placings from 31 starts and A$2.1-million in earnings.

“Scenic Blast and [stablemate] Scenic Shot took us on a great ride. With Scenic Blast, we went to England, then Japan then Hong Kong. It was really cool and my family got to travel with us all the way,” said Morton.

Scenic Blast spent 18 months being nursed back from injury before joining the Off The Track programme, which supports the transition of racehorses into new careers, as an ambassador.