Lightly raced six-year-old The Scunner showed his last start runner-up finish at Group Three level was no fluke as he backed that effort up with another professional display to capture the Gr.3 Taylor Property Plus Spring Sprint (1400m) at Trentham.
The Ashley Meadows-prepared son of Shamexpress was having just his 15th career start on Saturday but showed he has now hit his straps with a vengeance as he downed the top two favoured runners in the contest, Riccarton visitor Mystic Park and Cambridge raider Kitty Flash, in decisive fashion.
Given a perfect trip in transit by rider Kelly Myers, The Scunner tracked pacemaker Ifndoubtgetout into the home straight before ranging alongside that runner shortly after straightening.
Kitty Flash and Mystic Park made their runs wider out and looked as though they would swamp The Scunner, however, under the urgings of Myers, The Scunner found another gear in the last 150m to pull clear and win by a length in a smart 1.22.88 for the 1400m journey.
Meadows believes his charge has finally matured fully for his current campaign that has provided two wins and a runner-up finish in the Gr.3 Thompson Handicap (1600m) as evidence of that.
“I was watching him during the running and saw a few of them were getting scrubbed up and he was still travelling well, so I had a bit of confidence,” Meadows said.
“I wasn’t sure how well he was going to kick on top of the ground, but he showed a good turn of foot and was tough to the line.
“You can’t fault him this prep and I think he has just matured as he is bigger and stronger and going well, with more in store for him.
“We will just have to see what the handicapper does to him now, as he is getting up there (in the weights).
“Originally we tried to sell him as a young horse, but he failed the vet, although he has paid for himself now.”
Bred by Gloria Kenny from her Diamond Express mare Miss Daphne, The Scunner’s grand dam is Miss Katella, who is a half-sister to Group One winner Gee I Jane and the stakes winner Miss Jessie Jay, who produced Group One winners Katie Lee and Banchee.
He has now won six of his 15 starts and earned more than $228,000 in prizemoney. - LOVERACING.NZ NZ News Desk
