Aussie poised for King's Stand blast off

Dan Morton has likened Scenic Blast to Australian sprint sensation Choisir as the Perth trainer prepares to tackle the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot next week.

Choisir famously travelled across the world to claim the five-furlong dash and the Golden Jubilee Stakes at the meeting in 2003, and Scenic Blast will attempt to land the first leg of that double.

The five-year-old is the 4-1 second-favourite behind Amour Propre with Ladbrokes and William Hill, and laid down a marker for the Royal meeting when landing the first part of the Global Sprint Challenge, the Lightning Stakes, at Flemington in January.

Morton, who took over the licence from his father Len in 2004, said: “He is a good horse and deserves his chance to come and try in these better races.

“He won two big sprints in Australia last autumn and we were then approached by Ascot to be part of the Global Sprint Challenge.

“He has got similar form lines to Choisir and the races he won during the autumn were against the best sprinters around, so there are strong form lines.

“He arrived here two weeks ago today and travelled over great. The first week he was here the weather was beautiful which made it easier for him.

“Ascot seems a very forgiving track with a good surface, and racing over five or six furlongs is ideal.

“Amour Propre and Tax Free are both there and there are a few serious chances in the race, but if we get a clear passage through then we will be thereabouts.”

Choisir also went on to Newmarket in the summer of 2003 to finish runner-up in the July Cup, and Morton revealed Scenic Blast could follow the same route.

He added: “If he gets through Tuesday in one piece then I am keen to stay on for the July Cup.”

Scenic Blast will be ridden by Australian weighing room giant Steve Arnold, who towers above his peers at five foot nine inches and rides at weights no lower than 55kg.

Arnold said: “He has always been a classy horse and he handles straight courses really well.

“He likes to come from off the pace but doesn’t need to be a mile off – he just needs cover and to sit behind the first row is fine for him.”