KEY POINTS:
West Australian Scenic Blast came back from a wind operation to beat the best sprinters in Australia and give trainer Danny Morton his first Group One winner yesterday.
Among those in his wake in the Lightning Stakes at Flemington were the favourite, Weekend Hussler who dead-heated for fourth with 3-year-old colt Wilander. A disappointing Apache Cat was ninth.
On the line Weekend Hussler was going home better than any other. His jockey Brad Rawiller was criticised by trainer Ross McDonald for going towards the inside in the 1000m straight dash.
Apache Cat, who was racing inside Weekend Hussler before drifting back, will have his next start in the Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley next Saturday week, a race also on the agenda for Weekend Hussler.
Scenic Blast is by the now defunct Sadler's Wells stallion Scenic, who also sired last year's Melbourne Cup (3200m) winner Viewed.
An A$85,000 WA Magic Millions yearling purchase, Scenic Blast has
raced 15 times for six wins, five seconds and two thirds.
Morton brought him to Melbourne as a 3-year-old and he won the Group Three McNeil Stakes (1100m) and was placed twice at Group One level behind Weekend Hussler.
He looked set for a fruitful spring last season but was found to have a wind problem, which required an operation, after he finished 11th to Weekend Hussler in the Memsie
Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
- AAP
