News

Newmarket Match Up For Australian Stars

10th Jun 2009

Racing And Sports - Chris Scholtz - Wednesday, 10 June 2009

Australian sprint stars Scenic Blast and Takeover Target will link up for an important track gallop at Newmarket on Thursday.

The pair will be the star attractions at a special media promotion ahead of next week's Royal Ascot carnival that begins on Tuesday.

Their race jockeys Steven Arnold (Scenic Blast) and Jay Ford (Takeover Target) have arrived and will partner the pair in the gallop.

Perth trainer Dan Morton said the workout with Takeover Target will be the most important gallop for Scenic Blast since he arrived in the UK.

“He worked well the other morning with a couple of horses from Peter Chappel-Hyam's stable and after conceding about five length start rounded them up easily,” Morton said.

“This is the business end of the trip, so it is important that everything goes to plan.

“By working with Takeover Target we will get a definite indication as to how well he is tracking.”

Morton and Takeover Target's trainer Joe Janiak dismissed a report that their horses had been threatened by a virus scare at Newmarket.

The Australians are sharing boxes at Geoff Wragg's stables with other visiting horses with a two-year-old trained prepared by visiting US trainer Wesley Ward requiring treatment for a temperature.

Morton said the filly appeared to have travel sickness and represented no threat to Scenic Blast or Takeover Target.

Scenic Blast will open the Australian assault on Royal Ascot in Tuesday's G1 King's Stand Stakes.

Takeover Target will have his seventh start in four years at Royal Ascot in the G1 Golden Jubilee Stakes on Saturday week.