BIG PAYDAY ON THE RADAR FOR SCENIC BLAST

By Graham Potter | Wednesday, September 30, 2009

The land of the rising sun could provide the backdrop for a US $1-million windfall for the connections of the star Australian sprinter Scenic Blast.

The Daniel Morton trained Scenic Blast is due to face the starter in the Sprinters Stakes in Japan on Sunday. The Sprinters Stakes is the sixth event in the seven-race Global Sprint Challenge series.

The series carries a US $1 million bonus for any runner who can win at least three designated Group 1 races in three different countries. Scenic Blast already has two wins to his credit. He won the Lightning Stakes at Flemington and the Kings Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot. Victory on Sunday in the Sprinters Stakes, will not only see Scenic Blast claim the first prize of 95 million yen ($1.2 million Australian dollars), but connections will also pocket the US 1-million bonus - so there is a lot riding on this campaign.

Should Scenic Blast miss out on Sunday, he will have a second chance of taking care of business in the series finale, the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Sprint in December.

Of the US$ 1-million bonus, US$750000 goes to the owner. US$250000 goes to the trainer.

The Global Sprint Challenge is a race series conducted by Racing Victoria Limited, Ascot Racecourse Limited, Japan Racing Association and the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

The Global Sprint Championship Trophy will be presented to the horse who tops the points table and who has accumulated a minimum of 42 points and has competed in Challenge races in three countries. This strict eligibility criteria for becoming the Global Sprint Champion means that in some years no runner may meet the requirements to be named Champion. There was no Champion in 2007 or 2008. The last Global Sprint Champion was Takeover Target in 2006.

Points are allocated on the following basis: 10 points (first); 5 points (second); 4 points (third); 3 points (fourth); 2 points (fifth) and one point any other starter. Points are doubled when a runner scores racing away from his home jurisdiction.

Scenic Blast currently has 32 points. The Jeremy Noseda trained Fleeting Spirit, who won the July Cup at Ascot, is in second place with 15 points.

So, as close as the Global Sprint Challenge Championship glory and gold might be, neither has been won yet. It’s like being in the ‘nervous nineties’. On Sunday we will know the outcome.

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