TAKING THE SCENIC ROUTE

By Graham Potter | Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Weight stops trains, so they say, but Scenic Shot shrugged aside that burden and built up a head of steam which blew his rivals away in the Group 2, Brisbane Cup at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

It was a marvellous end to the gelding’s four race Queensland Carnival campaign which started with a fifth placed finish behind Fulmonti in the Hollindale at the Gold Coast at the start of May and ended with a hat-trick of wins in the Doomben Cup (Group 1), the O’Shea (Group 2) and finally the Brisbane Cup (Group 2).

As Scenic Shot now moves off out west into the sunset for a well-deserved spell in the paddock, ‘Part Two’ of the ‘Scenic’ connection campaign is poised to get under way in England.

While Scenic Shot’s Queensland campaign was orchestrated by trainer Dan Morton, his father Len did the honours in terms of being hands-on and looking after the horse’s well-being during the last two months.

Dan Morton had other important commitments, namely preparing the autumn’s dual Group 1 winner Scenic Blast for a crack at Royal Ascot glory. The focus of this successful stable will now switch from Scenic Shot to Scenic Blast and an English campaign which will kick off with the Group 1 King’s Stand next Tuesday and then the July Cup - with the Golden Jubilee also being a possible big race target.

Scenic Blast will gallop with Takeover Target on Thursday. Takeover Target is scheduled to line up in the Golden Jubilee on Saturday week.

Brisbane Cup (Group 2) - 2400m. Time: 2-34.62.
Track - Heavy 8. Rail - out 4m.
1 Scenic Shot; 2 Ready To Lift; 3 Tinsel Town

WINNER FEEDBACK:
Trainer Len Morton: “It’s just fantastic. The handicapper gave him 60kg and they get 60kg because they are the best in the field aren’t they. He looked under pressure but when he levelled up with them, I thought anything coming from behind is going to have a battle on their hands today because he doesn’t lay down to anything.

“The horse has just done so well since his last run. We didn’t really think about not running him because of the weight. We felt that he was going to go round ... he was only going to be a kilo more than he was carrying at Weight-For-Age and if they were too good for him at the light weights, it was still not going to hurt the horse because he’s only going home for a spell. He’s done a wonderful job.

“We had exactly the same plan as last time. This horse, as long as you can keep his balance and his rhythm, and he doesn’t have to check and get in bumping duels ... he’s going to be there at the end of it. He’s really thrived here. He was bouncing around on Tuesday. That’s the horse himself. He really is a character of the horse. When he is fit and well, he shows it. We’re very happy with him.

“He has always raced well down south. He has always picks up a cheque. Dan (Morton) will make that decision, along with the owners, as to where he goes in the spring. I’d say probably there is a pretty fair chance he will front up down there again. This level has been where he has been racing at his best - Perth and here (Brisbane). Dan will be watching on some kind of Sky Channel arrangement at 7am in Newmarket (England).

Jockey Shane Scriven: “Mate, he was very brave. He was gone at the furlong. He just shrunk up underneath me, but he just wouldn’t lie down. I knew if they were coming at him he would fight ... but I did feel a chink in his armour. But I reckon it was the body giving in and then the heart took over. He ran on pure heart the last furlong. I was just giving him back-handers and I was talking to him to ‘come on’ ... just to encourage him. I didn’t have to do much. He just knew what he had to do and he just kept things going for the last furlong. The last 100m was purely on courage.

“I pulled him up. He is exhausted ... he created history ... the horse is spent ... but, mate, I’d give him ten minutes and he’ll go around again. Get a feed into him and he’ll be bright as a button tomorrow. The run won’t hurt him because he is rock solid. I just love the way he fights. He’s tough. I love him.

“People had us down and dusted today. He had to set a weight carrying record. He had a bad barrier. The track was a little heavy. I can honestly tell you I have ridden some tough horses, but I don’t know if I’ve ridden a tougher horse than this.

“Everyone was starting to knock him. I had a glance at the tote board going out, you know, and he wasn’t even favourite - for a Group 1 winner! I said to Len (Morton) this morning, I know he is six lengths better than them ... or 6kg better than them ... but I don’t know whether he is eight. But jeez, I nearly reckon he’s 12! He is climbing the ladder to be one of my favourites. He’s put me back in the spotlight, which is something I haven’t been for a while. It’s probably been my best carnival. It’s topped off a good carnival ... and I don’t know mate. We’ve still got a couple of weeks to go. Who knows what’s around the corner.

“They tell me he’s coming back next year. I hope to be back here next year. Where-ever he goes, you know ... I’ve built up a bit of an affiliation with the horse and with the boys, so we might be doing a bit of travelling. If not, I’ll see him in twelve months time.”

PRICE FLUCTUATIONS:
Winner (Scenic Shot): 7.00 out to 8.00 in to 6.50. Equal favourite.
Equal favourite (Reggie): 6.00 out to 6.50. Finished sixth.