THE Australian-trained contingent at Sha Tin yesterday had a miserable day with Scenic Blast bleeding from both nostrils after the Hong Kong International Sprint and Apache Cat pulling up sore, reports The Age.It says: The other two contenders, All Silent in the sprint and Racing to Win in the mile, were well beaten. A minor consolation for the Australians was that the winner of the sprint, Sacred Kingdom, was ridden by Brett Prebble and the first two home were bred in Australia, meaning it was

THE Australian-trained contingent at Sha Tin yesterday had a miserable day with Scenic Blast bleeding from both nostrils after the Hong Kong International Sprint and Apache Cat pulling up sore, reports The Age.

It says: The other two contenders, All Silent in the sprint and Racing to Win in the mile, were well beaten. A minor consolation for the Australians was that the winner of the sprint, Sacred Kingdom, was ridden by Brett Prebble and the first two home were bred in Australia, meaning it was the 11th time in as many races that they have triumphed.

Scenic Blast will be banned from racing for three months, putting his chances of returning to Royal Ascot next year in doubt.

Damien Oliver said Apache Cat felt fine in the race and it was not until pulling up that he realised he was sore. ''It was a brave run considering how he pulled up. He began a bit slowly as he often does but in a race like this it cost him,'' Oliver said. Trainer Greg Eurell said he had a few concerns as his horse was led back but was relieved when it appeared the injury was not life threatening. ''I'm not sure exactly what the problem is but it was a worrying moment when he was led back. We'll get him home for a spell now and see how things work out,'' he said.

After racing midfield on the rails, Apache Cat ran on fairly for seventh to be best of the Australians, 3¢ lengths from Sacred Kingdom. Right behind him was All Silent, who had to come from the rear after drawing the outside barrier. Trainer Grahame Begg was philosophical.

''It was always going to be difficult. He took a few shortcuts but it never really worked out,'' Begg said. ''I guess at least he's come through it in good order and the others [Australians] haven't so you have to be happy with that.''

The Ricky Yiu-trained Sacred Kingdom returned to his best form after a leg injury, to win his second Hong Kong Sprint after taking out the race in 2007.

As he paraded around the mounting yard prior to the race, Prebble was booed by sections of the crowd after being beaten on two odds-on favourites but he quickly put that behind him in the race, timing his run to perfection.

''When I got off their backs I said count to 10 and count to 10 again and when I let him go I knew they couldn't run him down,'' Prebble said.

Sacred Kingdom won by half a length from the John Moore trained, Darren Beadman ridden One World, with another Hong Kong trained horse, Joy And Fun, a further neck away third.

John O'Shea's Racing To Win could not help balance the ledger in the Hong Kong Mile, finishing unplaced behind local champion Good Ba Ba, who, for the first time in Hong Kong, made it three consecutive wins in the race.