Rival trainers have issued their warnings ahead of the Group Two Victory Stakes at Eagle Farm but jockey Shane Scriven has his own words of advice.
“Don’t underestimate old Scenic Blast,” Scriven said.
The Victory Stakes is being billed as a showdown between Buffering and Adebisi with Magic Millions Cup winner Spirit Of Boom also among the contenders in Saturday’s five-horse feature.
Scenic Blast, who will wear blinkers, is the veteran of the field at seven and is on the comeback trail following a distinguished career on the international stage and a brief spring campaign in Melbourne.
Named Australian Horse of the Year in 2009, Scenic Blast is a three-time Group One winner but has been winless since taking out the Group One King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2009.
He later failed in the Group One Sprinters Stakes in Japan before being sent to top United States trainer John Shirreffs, of Zenyatta fame, to continue his career after suffering a bleeding attack in the 2009 Hong Kong International Sprint at Sha Tin.
Scenic Blast had five starts for Shirreffs and added a United States Group One placing to his international record when second in the Bing Crosby at Del Mar in August 2010.
On his return to Australia, Scenic Blast resumed after nearly a year off finishing last of four to Black Caviar in the Group Two Schweppes Stakes at Moonee Valley in October before his last-start fifth to the wonder mare in the Group One Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) at Flemington in November.
Scriven has shared in some great successes with the gelding’s stablemate Scenic Shot but admits he knows little about Scenic Blast.
“This is the first time I’ve ridden him and I only know about his reputation,” Scriven said.
“The boys around his stable are hopeful he’s somewhere near his best.
“He’s had a lot of problems and is getting older. Sometimes horses like him can get away with a niggling problem or two but he’s got half a dozen issues.
“It’s a matter of whether he can do it under pressure in a race.”
Scriven warned Scenic Blast would be suited by the expected fast tempo in the Victory Stakes.
“If there’s a lot of speed on, which I’m anticipating, he could well finish over the top of them,” he said.
“You can tell he used to be a Rolls Royce but the motor isn’t purring at it’s best any more.”
