Classy sprinter Burdekin Blues showed he was on track for a Group One campaign in Melbourne with an arrogant on speed win in today’s $100,000 Bat Out of Hell Handicap (900m) at the Gold Coast.

Confidently ridden by regular rider Shane Scriven, Burdekin Blues got to the front early in the race and held the lead from there on and he cruised home to beat Azzaland by a length.

Trainer Barry Baldwin said it was a good deal of relief that the stable star was able to get home first.

“It’s always a relief when they are odds on,” Baldwin said. “He did what he had to do.”

“I’ve seen him have better wins, but he got the job done and I was quite happy with that.”

The outstanding son of Sequalo will return to Melbourne where he won a stakes race during the Spring Carnival to tackle the country’s leading sprinters.

“He’ll have a couple of easy weeks and then we’ll go to Melbourne,” he noted.

“We’ll have a crack at the Lightning (Stakes). He won down the straight – he’s won listeds and Group Twos – so we’ll go for a Group One now.”

Whether or not he would stay in Melbourne after the Lightning will decide on how he runs in the 1000 metre dash.

“There are plenty of options. We might even go back to Sydney and not even tackle the Newmarket.”

“I’ll just talk to Tom and see what he thinks and then work it out from there.”

Where Burdekin Blues goes, leading Queensland rider Shane Scriven will be going with him according to Baldwin.

“I think he’ll kill me if we took him off.”

“He’s great Scrivvo. He comes and rides work every morning, so at least he puts something back into it.”

Scriven was delighted with the win and said he was looking forward in continuing his association with the sprint star in Melbourne.

“Hopefully he can go south and do Queensland proud,” Scriven said.

A gelded son of leading Queensland sire Sequalo, Burdekin Blues is raced by Ingham based Tom Sheahan and was purchased by Baldwin for $32,000 at the 2006 Magic Millions Premier (now QTIS 600) Yearling Sale.

His record is an impressive one – 11 wins and four minor placings from just 18 starts and an ever increasing prizemoney haul – it now stands at $651,050.

Burdekin Blues is one of three winners from his dam, the group performed 16 time winner Winsome Blue.

A daughter of Blue Run, Winsome Blue was a sizzling sprinting mare – all of her wins coming at distances up to 1050 metres.

Sequalo, the sire of Burdekin Blues, has 15 yearlings heading to January’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

He will also have a big representation at March’s Magic Millions QTIS 600 Yearling Sale at the Gold Coast.

PICS – Dan Costello.