Scenic (horse)

Scenic made his first appearance in a six furlong maiden race at Goodwood Racecourse on 29 July in which he was ridden by Paul Cook and finished second, beaten half a length by the Dick Hern-trained Road To Reason. Three weeks later he was moved up in distance and started 8/11 favourite in a sixteen-runner field for a seven furlong maiden at Chester Racecourse. With Michael Hills in the saddle he took the lead approaching the final furlong and won by one and a half lengths from the filly Garth Lady.[4] Twelve days at York Racecourse Scenic contested a seven furlong "graduation" race, for horses with no more than one previous race. Starting 2/1 joint-favourite he tracked the leaders before taking the led in the last quarter mile and won by two lengths from the Guy Harwood-trained Ambuscade.[5]

After a break of six weeks Scenic returned to the track to contest Britain's most prestigious race for juveniles, the Dewhurst Stakes over seven furlongs at Newmarket Racecourse on 14 October and started the 33/1 outsider in a six-runner field. Prince of Dance (winner of the Champagne Stakes) started favourite ahead of Opening Verse, whilst the other three runners were Saratogan (from the Vincent O'Brien stable), Zayyani and Samoan (Bernard Van Cutsem Stakes). Samoan led the field before Scenic went to the front two furlongs out. The race devolved into a struggle between Scenic and Prince of Dance and the two colts crossed the line together with Saratogan just behind in third place. After studying the photo-finish the judge declared a dead heat, making Scenic and Prince of Dance the joint-winners of the Group One contest.[6]

Scenic did not reappear as a three-year-old until June when he contested the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot in which he finished third of the five runners behind Shaadi and Greensmith. On 15 July, Scenic was matched against Ile de Chypre and High Estate (Royal Lodge Stakes) in the William Hill Classic over ten furlongs at Ayr Racecourse and started the 5/2 outsider of the three runners. After racing in third place he accelerated into the lead a furlong out and won by a length from Ile de Chypre.[7]

In September Scenic was sent to Ireland for the Irish Champion Stakes at Phoenix Park Racecourse and started 5/4 favourite in a nine-runner field. He turned into the straight in sixth place but was unable to make any progress and finished eighth behind Carroll House. On 21 October the colt contested the Champion Stakes at Newmarket Racecourse. He struggled to obtain a clear run in the closing stages and finished fourth behind Legal Case, Dolpour and Ile de Chypre, beaten less than two lengths by the winner.[8] On his final appearance of the season Scenic was sent to the United States and was moved up in distance for the Breeders' Cup Turf over one and a half miles at Gulfstream Park on 4 November. He started a 26/1 outsider and finished unplaced behind Prized.

Scenic began his third season in the Earl of Sefton Stakes at Newmerket on 18 April and finished fourth of the ten runners behind Terimon. In the Brigadier Gerard Stakes at Sandown Park Racecourse on 29 May Scenic finished second behind Husyan. In June at Royal Ascot, Scenic contested his final race and finished last of the eight runners behind Batshoof in the Prince of Wales's Stakes.[9]

Scenic sired 13 individual Group 1 winners:

'c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding