Scenic Blast fourth at US debut

Australian-owned sprinter Scenic Blast has made an unplaced but promising start to his United States racing career.The reigning Australian Horse of the Year finished fourth in the Robert K Kerlan Memorial Handicap - one of the feature sprint races of the Hollywood Park racing season.Settling last of the seven runners, Scenic Blast rallied late for jockey Mike Smith in the 1200-metre sprint to finish two lengths from the winner.After being switched widest when five lengths from the leaders as the

Australian-owned sprinter Scenic Blast has made an unplaced but promising start to his United States racing career.

The reigning Australian Horse of the Year finished fourth in the Robert K Kerlan Memorial Handicap - one of the feature sprint races of the Hollywood Park racing season.

Settling last of the seven runners, Scenic Blast rallied late for jockey Mike Smith in the 1200-metre sprint to finish two lengths from the winner.

After being switched widest when five lengths from the leaders as the field headed for the post, Scenic Blast was clearly the best finisher in the race, emphasised by the overall and closing sectional times.

The winner My Summer Slew ran the race in 1:08.40 with the final 400 metres covered in 22.09 and the last 200 metres in 11.69.

Scenic Blast was having his first start for John Shirreffs, the United States trainer who also prepares wonder mare Zenyatta.

A three-time winner at Group One level in Australia and England, Scenic Blast was sent to Shirreffs to continue his career after suffering a bleeding attack in last year's Hong Kong International Sprint at Sha Tin.

At his American debut, Scenic Blast raced with the aid of Lasix, an anti-bleeding agent which is banned in Australia.

Under the care of Perth trainer Dan Morton, Scenic Blast became one of Australia's best sprinters with Group One wins in the Lightning Stakes and Newmarket Handicap.

He was voted the 2008-2009 Australian horse of the year after making a successful debut on the international stage with his King's Stand Stakes triumph at Royal Ascot.