Australian horse of the year Scenic Blast has added a United States Group One placing to his international record.Scenic Blast finished second in the $US250,000 ($A275,862.07) Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar.The former West Australian-trained sprinter, having his first start on a synthetic surface, was beaten 1-1/2 lengths by Smiling Tiger.Scenic Blast raced in second spot outside the leader before dropping back to third on the turn.He rallied strongly along the inside for Hall of Fame jockey Mike

Australian horse of the year Scenic Blast has added a United States Group One placing to his international record.

Scenic Blast finished second in the $US250,000 ($A275,862.07) Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar.

The former West Australian-trained sprinter, having his first start on a synthetic surface, was beaten 1-1/2 lengths by Smiling Tiger.

Scenic Blast raced in second spot outside the leader before dropping back to third on the turn.

He rallied strongly along the inside for Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith to set out after Smiling Tiger, the only three-year-old in the race.

Finishing behind Scenic Blast were the Group One winners Cost Of Freedom and E Z's Gentleman.

Scenic Blast was making his second United States appearance for leading trainer John Shirreffs.

He ran on strongly on the turf when fourth in the Kerlan Memorial (1200m) at Hollywood Park last month.

The six-year-old suffered a minor setback after his US debut, forcing Shirreffs to abandon plans to race Scenic Blast over 1600 metres.

After an Australian career which included victories in last year's Lightning Stakes and Newmarket Handicap, Scenic Blast beat an international field in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot.

His form slipped away towards the latter part of 2009 and he was sent to the US - where he can race on the anti-bleeding agent lasix - to continue his career.

"He ran dynamite. He's getting that old confidence back," Smith told the Del Mar racetrack website.

"... he's starting to get that good feeling back now. He's going to get better, too. Just watch."