Exciting Bad Boy Sniper faces a crucial moment as he attempts to return to racing.
Jason Magri’s star greyhound (pictured) has built a strong record but has not raced since March 21 after suffering a potentially career-ending stopper bone injury.
The son of Dyna Tron and Isseymiyake, who has earned more than $70,000 in prizemoney, has been in work for a few weeks recovering from the injury and had “half-a-dozen” training runs at Appin.
Magri said he will give Bad Boy Sniper a run at Bulli on Tuesday – and is hoping his greyhound will handle the test.
“He’s had half-a-dozen runs up the straight at Appin and been going well,” the trainer said.
“There’s no dramas with him running in a straight line, but until we put him in the circle we don’t know if (the injury) will hold up.
“Fingers crossed he will come through fine.”
Bad Boy Sniper has been among NSW’s leading greyhounds since debuting at Dubbo in 2014.
He has earned 13 wins and nine minor placings from 29 starts and ran a brilliant 29.43 at Wentworth Park on January 31.
Click here to watch a replay of that run.
Magri said he would assess Bad Boy Sniper’s future after seeing how the greyhound fared at Bulli.
Meanwhile, the comeback of Stilton Blue, who won on his first start in more than three months in tremendous fashion at Bulli earlier this month, is gathering pace.
Phil Goodsell’s greyhound enjoyed a super 2014, winning the Group 3 Nowra Summer Puppy Classic and finishing runner-up in Group 2 Bulli Gold Cup, before a hip injury curtailed his year in November.
He attempted a comeback at Bulli on April 1, but broke a toe during the race and was sidelined again.
Stilton Blue’s luck may have changed, however, after his strong win over the 400m at Bulli in 22.48.
Watch a replay of that race here.
“He had been trialling well, so to be honest I wasn’t too surprised with how he did,” Goodsell said.
“I reckon this is the best he has looked and fastest he has been. I think he could have run the 472m, he is that strong.
“We’ll keep him trialling and aim for Wentworth Park on Saturday week.”
The victory at Bulli took Stilton Blue's record to 15 wins and 12 minor placings from 39 starts.
