Not only does Scenic top the boards for the July Cup, he is also top rated after Ascot.
Scenic Blast nails top spot at Ascot on RPR
WORLD CLASS: An analysis of the best performances of last week according to Racing Post Ratings
TOP OF THE CLASS: Scenic Blast127+
Trainer: Danny Morton (Aus)
King's Stand Stakes, Royal Ascot, 5f, June 16
THERE was a major shake-up on the list of the world's leading turf horses last week after Royal Ascot was blessed with a flurry world-class performances.
A total of five Royal Ascot winners joined the top-ten list and Scenic Blast came out best with an RPR of 127+ for his most impressive win in the King's Stand Stakes on Tuesday.
The son of Scenic coasted up on the outside of the field before cruising into the lead, leaving his rivals toiling under pressure while he was yet to hit top gear.
He eventually finished three-quarters of a length ahead of Fleeting Spirit (119), but that distance doesn't do justice to the manner and means of his success.
The southern hemisphere four-year-old now joins countryman Choisir, successful in 2003, as the highest-rated winner of the 5f contest in the last ten years.
This was a most exciting effort from the Danny Morton-trained colt, who now tops the global sprint standings, while also sitting second on the overall turf list behind Gladiatorus.
The global turf leader was also in action last week, but he couldn't live up to his dazzling best in Tuesday's Queen Anne Stakes, finishing a disappointing sixth, almost 20 lengths behind the winner Paco Boy with an RPR of just 81, fully 48lb beneath his Dubai best.
Setting a furious early pace didn't give the Godolphin colt the best chance of success, as he quickly went six lengths clear in the first quarter mile before fading away tamely in the closing stages.
This may not fully explain just quite how poorly the favourite ran, but it may be too soon to write him off completely, as he impressed in Dubai and had been most consistent until this latest effort.
Paco Boy is rated just 2lb behind Gladiatorus at their respective bests, which equates to just under a length at this trip, and he was given a much more suitable ride than the favourite, travelling strongly aroundeight lengths off the early pace.
The four-year-old stepped up to the plate in fine style, proving his effectiveness at 1m with a length-and-a-quarter success over Ascot specialist Cesare (122).
Richard Hannon's son of Desert Style ran to an RPR of 126+, just a pound below the career best mark he achieved in last year's Prix de la Foret over 7f.
A drop back to 6f could be on the cards innext month's July Cup, but he would face stiff competition if he does go to Newmarket, in the form of newly crowned speed king Scenic Blast.
At the other end of the spectrum Yeats bounced back to his best with an imperious display in the Ascot Gold Cup, earning an RPR of 125.
TOP TURF PERFORMERS
1 Gladiatorus (UAE) Dubai Duty Free 129
2 Scenic Blast (Aus) King's Stand 127
3 J J The Jet Plane (SA) Windsor Listed race 126
Paco Boy (GB) Queen Anne 126
5 Sacred Kingdom (HK) KrisFlyer Sprint 125
Yeats (Ire) Ascot Gold Cup 125
7 Ask (GB) Coronation Cup 124
Deep Sky (Jap) Osaka Hai 124
Mastercraftsman (Ire) St James's Palace 124
Sea The Stars (Ire) 2,000 Guineas 124
Vision D'Etat (Fr) Prince of Wales's 124
Vodka (Jap) Victoria Mile 124
Youmzain (GB) Coronation Cup 124
TOP DIRT/AW PERFORMERS
1 Well Armed (US) Dubai World Cup 128
2 Big City Man (KSA) Golden Shaheen 124
Rachel Alexandra (US) Kentucky Oaks 124
4 Zenyatta (US) Milady Hcap 123
5 Fabulous Strike (US) Carter Hcap 122
Summer Bird (US) Belmont Stakes 122
Two Step Salsa (UAE) Wasel Trophy 122
8 Albertus Maximus (US) Donn Hcap 121
Einstein (US) Santa Anita Hcap 121
Friesan Fire (US) Louisiana Derby 121
Gayego (UAE) Mahab Al Shimaal 121
Mine That Bird (US) Kentucky Derby 121
Success Brocken (Jap) February Stakes 121
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