Scenic Blast’s Breeders’ Cup campaign is over after the Australian Horse of the Year could only finish third in the G3 Morvich Hcp (1200m) at Hollywood Park on Monday.  He was beaten 1.5 lengths and a neck by Quick Enough (High Brite) and Dilemma (Grand Slam).

He started an 8-5 favourite in the $100,000 event that exempts the winner from being balloted out of the BC Sprint.

Scenic Blast settled midfield under Victor Espinoza before angling off the rails for the run home.  He boxed on bravely between horses but couldn’t make up any ground on the winner in the straight.

Trainer John Shirreffs is on record as saying the Scenic gelding still has a future in the United States even if he misses the Breeders Cup at Churchill Downs.  “We can always bring him back next year,” Shirreffs said.  “You would expect him to acclimate and improve in 2011.”

Scenic Blast is winless in seven starts since his breathtaking victory in the G1 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in June 2009.  He has earned over $1.89 million for managing part-owner Elio Galante and the syndicate that bought him for $85,000 from the Durham Lodge draft at the 2006 Perth Magic Millions yearling sale.