Scenic Blast to race in Australia again 
01 Dec 2010
By Alex Steedman - racingandsports.com.au
Former Australian racehorse of the year Scenic Blast will return from racing in the United States to Perth early next year where he will be trained by Dan Morton and likely be set for sprint races throughout the Queensland Winter Carnival.
Scenic Blast and Stephen Arnold winning at Royal Ascot, picture racingandsports.com.au.
The multiple Group 1 winning sprinter will enter three weeks of quarantine in the United States this month before returning to Australia where he will spend another three weeks at the Eastern Creek quarantine facility.
Connections made the decision to bring Scenic Blast back to Australia after five runs for California trainer John Shirreffs failed to result in a win with suggestions the flashy gelding wasn't suited to their style of racing.
On his return to Australia, Scenic Blast will be reunited with his former trainer Dan Morton who enjoyed multiple Group 1 success with the gelding in feature sprint events during 2009.
Scenic Blast is expected to finish quarantine at Eastern Creek around the 20th of January and will be immediately transferred to Morton's Ascot stable.
It is expected at this early stage the son of Scenic will be prepared with a view toward Queensland's Winter Carnvial and Group 1 sprint features such as the BTC Cup (1200m) on May 14 and the Doomben 10,000 (1350m) a fortnight later.
While Scenic Blast failed to win during his stint in America, the preparation did see the six-year-old get back on track after three straight disappointing runs when well beaten in the July Cup (1207m) at Royal Ascot, the Sprinters Stakes (1200m) in Japan and then last years Hong Kong International Sprint (1200m) where he bled.
Incurring a three month ban from racing in Australia for the incident, it was then decided Scenic Blast would be transferred to the United Stakes where he could be treated with anti-bleeder medication Lasix.
Fourth on his American debut in the Robert K. Kerlan Memorial Handicap (1200m) on June 27, Scenic Blast then showed United States racegoers a glimpse of his ability when runner up in the Group 1 Bing Crosby Stakes (1200m) at Del Mar during August behind Smiling Tiger.
Scenic Blast then added a pair of Group 3 placings to his U.S record with thirds in the Morvich Handicap (1200m) and Vernon O. Underwood Handicap (1200m) both at Hollywood Park during October and November respectively.
Wins in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (1000m) and Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) during early 2009 combined with a King's Stand Stakes victory in June meant the Scenic gelding was crowned 2008/09 Australian Horse of the Year.
http://www.thoroughbrednews.com.au/s....aspx?id=50202