GROUP 1 SUCCESS FOR FLEETING SPIRIT IN JULY CUP

   FLEETING SPIRIT BURSTS TO THE LEAD

   - RACING AND SPORTS

RESULT - 2009 DARLEY JULY CUP - G1

1200 m / 6f

4th LEG GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE                  

Track Rated Good to Firm

The outstanding Jeremy Noseda-trained filly Fleeting Spirit has taken out the 2009 Darley July Cup (1200m) at Newmarket, but not before surviving a stewards inquiry for causing interference to runner-up Main Aim.

After hitting the front Fleeting Spirit veered sharply to the right when jockey Tom Queally put his whip in his left hand. It was Queally's second Group One success after claiming the previous leg of the Global Sprint Challenge, the Group 1 Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot aboard Art Connoisseur.

South African trained J J The Jet Plane was third across the line.

It was a well deserved win for Fleeting Spirit after running a close second in this year’s King's Stand Stakes behind Australian star Scenic Blast. Noseda told the Racing Post "This wasn't really the original plan after Ascot but we gave her ten days off and I thought I want to be around if for some reason Scenic Blast doesn't turn up.

"Then I gave her a piece of work last Wednesday and credit to the lad who rides her out as he said she'd come on an absolute bundle since Ascot. This is a Group 1 she deserves as I feel when my horses got sick just before Ascot last year that she was robbed of winning the King's Stand. She never really bounced back for the rest of the year but today was a great result and a great performance,” Noseda said.

JEREMY NOSEDA AT THE PRESENTATION                                                                          TOM QUEALLY ELATED AFTER HIS SECOND G1 VICTORY

PHOTOS - RAICNG AND SPORTS

Hot favourite Scenic Blast never threatened the filly as he failed to fire along the inside rail while fellow Aussie, the legendary Takeover Target, finished a brave seventh after suffering a career ending leg injury.

Trainer Joe Janiak and jockey Jay Ford were too shattered to comment after it was revealed Takeover Target sustained a crack in his near hind cannon bone which required emergency surgery at the Newmarket Veterinary Hospital,

Takeover Target has been one of the most successful Global Sprint Challenge competitors over the past 4 years. He has won Challenge races in Australia, UK and Japan and has only finished further back than fourth in two of his 11 Challenge starts.

He will spend at least two months recovering from his surgery in UK before heading back to enjoy retirement in Australia.

Takeover Target was purchased as a tried racehorse by Joe Janiak for a mere AUD$1250 and went on to collect over AUD$6,000,000 in prizemoney throughout his career which included 21 wins.

Australia's Scenic Blast still has a clear lead on the Global Sprint Challenge leader board with 32 points. Fleeting Spirit is now second with 15 points.

The Championship Trophy will be awarded to the horse that accumulates 42 points or above and participates in Challenge races in at least three countries. The US$1,000,000 bonus will be awarded to connections of any horse which wins three Group One's in three different countries.

The fifth leg of the Global Sprint Challenge is the Group 2 Centaur Stakes in Japan on 13th September 2009.

GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE POINTS TABLE AFTER 4 LEGS

2009 DARLEY JULY CUP

Newmarket

FOURTH LEG 2009 GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE

Friday 10 July 2009

3.10pm (Local Time) 12.10am Saturday (Australian Eastern Standard Time)

ARNOLD CONFIDENT AHEAD OF JULY CUP

                                                 TAKEOVER TARGET / EQUIANO                                             SCENIC BLAST                                                        ART CONNOISSEUR

Leading jockey Steven Arnold is on his way to England where he’ll partner superstar sprinter Scenic Blast in the Group 1 Darley July Cup (1200m) at Newmarket in the early hours of Saturday morning AEST.

Arnold teamed with the Danny Morton-trained galloper to win the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes (1000m) at Royal Ascot last month and says Scenic Blast has earned his position as short-priced favourite.

“I’m pretty confident in the horse and that he’ll run well and once I get on the horse I’ll be pretty right and he’s probably short for a reason and hopefully he can do the job again.

“Danny rides all the work himself and he’s reported that his came through the race really well and he’s in great shape so I’m pretty happy with that,” Arnold said.

Scenic Blast will face 13 rivals in the King’s Stand after connections of second-favourite Paco Boy and the horse Scenic Blast beat in the King’s Stand, Fleeting Spirit, confirmed both horses are now likely to run.

“Yeah there’s a few that ran in the race the other day and a couple of different ones but it’s probably not much stronger than the King’s Stand so the horse has come through well and has luck in running we’ll be very competitive.”

The x-factor looms as Aussie sprinting legend Takeover Target which has been Scenic Blast’s constant galloping companion since arriving in England. The July Cup will be the first time the pair have clashed in a race.

“Takeover has obviously been great for Australia and he’s done a great job over the last few years and we won’t be underestimating Takeover,” said Arnold.

SCENIC BLAST ON TOP OF THE WORLD

Australia’s Royal Ascot hero Scenic Blast has been marked extremely high in the latest IFHA World Thoroughbred Rankings (released today).
The Daniel Morton-trained five-year-old has joined fellow Australian-bred sprinter Sacred Kingdom, at the top of the World Sprinting ranks on 122, following a dominant win in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes (1000m) at Royal Ascot on 16 June 2009.

The 2009 Global Sprint Challenge leader became the fourth Australian-trained sprinter to win the King’s Stand Stakes in the last seven years and his performance was rated superior to those before him:

KING’S STAND WINNERS

“The rating for Scenic Blast is a tremendous result for Australian racing and reflects the dominance of his performance in the King’s Stand," said RVL Chief Handicapper Greg Carpenter, who represents Australia on the World Thoroughbred Rankings Committee.

Scenic Blast will continue his pursuit of the $8 million Global Sprint Challenge in the Darley July Cup (1200m) at Newmarket on 10 July, which represents the fourth leg of the world’s richest sprint series.

Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes winner Art Connoisseur (IRE) entered the World top 50 ranking on 119.

WORLD TOP SPRINTERS

SCENIC REMAINS ON TOP OF SPRINT CHALLENGE

Australian champion sprinter Scenic Blast remains on top of the Global Sprint Challenge leader board after the running of the third leg, the Golden Jubilee, on Saturday at Royal Ascot. The Daniel Morton-trained gelding has a strong lead on 30 points over closest rivals Cannonball on 12 points and Golden Jubilee winner Art Connoisseur on 10 points.

Art Connoisseur’s trainer Michael Bell suggested that the three-year-old may run in the Darley July Cup in Newmarket next month where he is likely to take on Scenic Blast and Australian sprint veteran Takeover Target who was a shock scratching in Saturday’s race.

Scenic Blast won the first two legs of the Global Sprint Challenge; the Coolmore Lightning Stakes at Flemington in January and the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot last Wednesday.

The Group 1 July Cup represents the fourth leg of the Global Sprint Challenge.

GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE POINTS TABLE AFTER 3 LEGS

Art Connoisseur leads the field in the 2009 Golden Jubilee Stakes

PHOTO: RACING AND SPORTS

RESULT - 2009 GOLDEN JUBILEE STAKES- G1

1200 m / 6f

3rd LEG GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE

Track Rated Good to Firm

Art Connoisseur holds of the US challenger Cannonball

PHOTO: RACING AND SPORTS

2009 GOLDEN JUBILEE STAKES

ROYAL ASCOT

THIRD LEG 2009 GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE

Saturday 20 June 2009

3.45pm (Local Time) 12.45am Sunday (Australian Eastern Standard Time)

SCENIC BLASTS AWAY RIVALS IN KING'S STAND

PHOTOS: Racing and Sports

RESULT - 2009 KING'S STAND STAKES - G1

1000 m / 5f

2nd LEG GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE

Track Rated Good to Firm

Australia further cemented its reputation for producing world-class sprinters when Scenic Blast cruised to an easy victory in the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes (1000m) at Royal Ascot. Perfectly ridden by Victoria’s Steven Arnold, Scenic Blast sat quietly midfield before exploding at the 400 metre mark to pull away for a three-quarter-length win ahead of second-favourite Fleeting Spirit and outsider Anglezarke.

“It’s fantastic . I’m just pleased that everything has gone to plan. Luckily they went to the stand side and he got out when we needed to get out. Steven had a handful of horse.

“Fitness wise I knew he was at a good level. We obviously know how good the horse is but you need everything to fall right in the race too. I never get ahead of myself because there are plenty of variables,” said winning trainer Daniel Morton.

“I’ve had a super year, this horse won the two major sprints in Melbourne, but this is right up there, a big achievement. The further they went in the race the happier I was because Steven had a lap full of horse, but then the line couldn’t come quickly enough.

“I won’t be backing up on Saturday (in the Golden Jubilee). We’ll look at both options (to race in Japan) but I dare say he’ll go home after the July Cup,” said Morton.

Elated winning jockey Steven Arnold, was also blown away with the victory.

“It was a dominant performance today, he was quite explosive. I’ve ridden a couple of good sprinters but he’s got the most electrifying burst, the best turn of foot that I’ve ever ridden.

“If he has a rest through the first half (of the race) he builds momentum, and has such a powerful turn of foot.

“It was a great scene for the owners and a great thrill for me but full credit to Danny Morton. He does all the trackwork with him and he gave me a lot of confidence going into the race. He didn’t tie me down with instructions.

“With that run now under the belt, the six furlongs (1200m) will suit him even better,” said Arnold.

Australian-trained horses have now won the first sprint feature at Royal Ascot a record four times.

The Daniel Morton-trained four-year-old has now secured the first two legs of the Global Sprint Challenge and will attempt to snare the third European leg of the Global Sprint Challenge the Darley July Cup (1200m) at Newmarket on 11 July.

All eyes now focus on one of the world’s greatest sprinters, Australia’s Takeover Target, when he lines up in this Saturday’s Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes (1200m) for a remarkable fourth time. The Joe Janiak trained veteran has never finished out of the first four placing’s in the £ 450,000 feature. He will need to overcome Australian-bred Hong Kong star Sacred Kingdom.

Scenic Blast now takes a commanding lead on the Global Sprint Challenge points table. 3 horses earned double points for running in the King's Stand which is outside their racing jurisdiction - Scenic Blast, Cannonball and Mythical Flight.

2009 KING'S STAND STAKES

ROYAL ASCOT

SECOND LEG 2009 GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE

Tuesday 16 June 2009

3.05pm (Local Time) 12.05am Wednesday (Australian Eastern Standard Time)

GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE RAIDERS HOPEFUL OF SUCCESS

                TAKEOVER TARGET                                      SACRED KINGDOM                                                       SCENIC BLAST

Takeover Target, the great Australian sprinter, will be restricted to just one race at Royal Ascot this year, the Group One Golden Jubilee Stakes worth £450,000 on Saturday, June 20, because of his age.

The 10-year-old “people’s champion” has raced in both the five-furlong King’s Stand Stakes on the Tuesday and the six-furlong Golden Jubilee Stakes on the Saturday on his three previous trips to Royal Ascot.

He won the King’s Stand Stakes in 2006 - then a Group Two event but promoted to Group One last year - and has finished in the first four on his other five Royal Ascot starts.

Trainer and part-owner Joe Janiak told a Global Sprint Challenge press conference in Newmarket today, Thursday, June 11 "Takeover Target is a bit old but the Golden Jubilee Stakes is one race I would really like to win - he has run second, third and fourth.

I think he was a bit unlucky last year and he has had a couple of nice placings in it. Last year he did a suspensory in the race when he was in a position to win. We have got him peaking and if he can reproduce his form from the T J Smith Stakes, which he won first up this year, then he has a real big chance.

It is just mind-boggling to think that a horse of his age can win so well at the top level (as he did in the T J Smith at Randwick on April 18). I thought Takeover Target was a bit under done going into the T J Smith - we had a few problems and I would have been quite happy just to see him placed. He blew my mind out.

He had shoeing problems coming into the Morphettville race next time and was 90 per cent fit. To win that race was a bonus.

Takeover Target also had a few little problems in Singapore (where he came eighth in the KrisFlyer International Sprint at Kranji, Singapore, on May 17). The horse was isolated in quarantine on his own and was fretting plus there was the heat and he didn’t eat up all that good. When you travel, all those sort of things need to be in your favour - the horse was just not at his best.

“Sacred Kingdom looks the biggest danger after his win in Singapore. It was a brilliant time. He is a great horse but he has got to travel and everything has to go right for him. Then there is J J (The Jet Plane) whose win the other day was very convincing. They are the two in the race I respect.

This is not definitely the last time Takeover Target will come to England. I said last year that I probably wouldn’t come back but the horse has been so competitive this year. While Takeover Target is competitive, we will continue running.

I think he prefers being over here in England better than being in Australia. I will be back here next year for the film (about Takeover Target) anyway.

His will to win keeps him going - he doesn’t like getting beat, even in his work. He has always been like that. He has an enormous heart and that will to win.

He cost AUS$1,250 and all I wanted to do at the beginning was to get my money back and a bit of profit by picking up a little race. The rest has just been a dream (He has won over AUS$6 million - more than £2.5 million).

I never anticipated going overseas - once we started travelling it has been fantastic and I have seen half the world because of him. He has made life easier in a lot of respects for me - my feed man now calls me mate because he is paid on time. When I ring the blacksmith up to get a horse shod in the yard, he comes within a week when it used to be a month! When you are training horses, it makes a lot of difference."

Asked about the movie that is due to be made about Takeover Target, Janiak replied: “It is good to see the horse being recognized. It is a wonderful story. I cannot believe half the things that this horse has achieved.”

There are stories suggesting Russell Crowe will play the trainer role in the film. Janiak commented: “That would be great - I could teach him a little bit of acting!”

Hong Kong-based Sacred Kingdom has to be supplemented at a cost of £45,000 on Monday to the Golden Jubilee Stakes.

Scenic Blast, the new sprinting sensation from Australia, is half Takeover Target’s age at five and might try to win both legs of the Global Sprint Challenge staged at Royal Ascot next week.

The son of Scenic worked on the Al Bahathri gallop on the Newmarket training grounds this morning and pleased his trainer, the Perth-based Dan Morton.

Morton, who trains 30 horses in Western Australia, said: “There have been a lot of very good horses come out of Western Australia.

“The Eastern states, Melbourne and Sydney, stage the pinnacle of the racing so that is where we have to go. The flight time for the horses is nearly four hours.

“It is great - win, lose or draw - to come over here and see how things operate at a racing mecca.

“Scenic Blast is very effective over both five and six furlongs. The five at Ascot is probably a harder five than our five at home.

“To opt for the five-furlong race first up (the King’s Stand Stakes on Tuesday, June 16) gives him the softest option and at this stage it does look the easier of the two races.

“Choisir (winner of both the King’s Stand Stakes and the Golden Jubilee Stakes in 2003) was a trail-blazer for Australian sprinters. We have similar form to Choisir coming into Royal Ascot and Scenic Blast is in good nick and should be fairly competitive.

“In both the races he has won this year (the Group One five-furlong Lightning Stakes at Flemington on January 31 - the first leg of the 2009 Global Sprint Challenge - and the Group One six-furlong Newmarket Handicap at the same course on March 7) he was back off the speed a little bit. He lets down very quickly which is good attribute to have. He has sometimes been closer to the speed and boxed on very well.

“Steven (Arnold) is a very good jockey and he knew what he had under him. We were 20/1 I think in the first race and there was no great expectation.

“It would probably be an advantage for Steven to have ridden at Ascot before but I prefer to have someone who knows my horse. The uphill finish is a bit of an unknown at Ascot but I am sure Scenic Blast will cope well.

“He had plenty of experience of flying before he came to England and he handled all that very well. Our biggest worry was the travel - he was on the plane some 30 hours - but it was no problem and he has settled in at Newmarket.

“I would like to think we have Scenic Blast somewhere near his best form - he has had a trouble-free prep which is very important going into these big meets.

“He will be left in the Golden Jubilee but it is more likely that he won’t run in it.

“Scenic Blast is very sound so touch wood he can continue racing for a long time. Takeover Target has been remarkable.”

The 36-year-old trainer will also consider running in the third British leg of the Global Sprint Challenge, the Darley July Cup at Newmarket on July 10, and is hoping to win one of three races so his horse can then go to Hong Kong or Japan later in the year for other Global Sprint Challenge contests.

There is a US$1 million bonus for winning any three Group One Global Sprint Challenge races across three different countries.

Arnold was also present at today’s press conference. He said afterwards: “Scenic Blast handles straight courses really well. He likes good cover early so he can get into his rhythm. Then he seems able to produce a good finish.

“A testing 1,000 metres will suit him and he is a nice-actioned horse who travels well in his races. We are as confident as we can be. He is up there with the good sprinters we have had in Australia over the last five years.”

J J The Jet Plane, trained by Mike de Kock, who has 15 horses at what used to be Geoff Wragg’s yard in Newmarket, is being aimed at the Golden Jubilee Stakes.

The five-year-old, who trotted up at Windsor on his British debut at Windsor on June 1, had a blow-out on Newmarket’s July Course this morning.

The South African trainer, who has a stable of 170 horses back home, said: “I have had J J The Jet Plane since September. He has matured - I got him just as he turned four in Southern Hemisphere time - and I think he is on the up.

“We have seen a good part of him but I still think the best is still to come. He is a horse who lands running and gets into the race early.

“He is straightforward for both trainer and jockey. His mind is on the job. He has been in England since May and I think that has been an advantage.”

“J J The Jet Plane has not competed internationally at Group One level but he ran to a very good rating of 120 at Windsor.

“The Windsor race probably has put him spot on for the Golden Jubilee. To have a winner a Royal Ascot is a life’s ambition. I have healthy respect for Sacred Kingdom but his Singapore race may have taken quite a lot out of him - Singapore is a humid environment - and he has had to do a lot of travelling.

“I will consider the Darley July Cup after the Royal Ascot race.”

Mythical Flight, the South African challenger for £300,000 King’s Stand Stakes, is also staying at De Kock’s British base. The six-year-old is trained by Sean Tarry.

De Kock remarked: “Mythical Flight did not travel over well from Singapore (where he finished sixth to Sacred Kingdom) but he is coming right now. He is a specialist over five furlongs and is a very good horse. He is in with a chance.”

American trainer Wesley Ward has four-year-old Cannonball entered in the King’s Stand Stakes, the Golden Jubilee Stakes and the Darley July Cup.

He has also brought over from the US five two-year-olds for Royal Ascot. In a recorded interview, he said: “Cannonball is going to run a bang-up race.”

Royal Ascot takes place from Tuesday, June 16, through to Saturday, June 20, while Newmarket’s Champagne Lanson July Festival happens from Wednesday, July 8, to Friday, July 10.