Multiple Group winner Rue De Kahn will be retired from racing after she was scratched from Friday night’s Group 1 Greyhound-data.com Dapto Megastar.
The decision comes after the DEAN Swain-trained greyhound injured a stopper bone during a trial at Richmond on Monday morning.
“I’ve never had to scratch a greyhound from a Group 1 final before and it was very hard to make that call today,” Swain said.
“I’m just glad she has been able to go out on top. She was in career best form and still could have been very competitive if this injury hadn't happened.”
Rue De Kahn (pictured, pink rug) won 19 races from 69 starts, with the biggest win of her career coming in the 2014 Group 1 National Futurity.
Watch the replay here.
That win gave Swain his first ever Group 1 victory and proclaimed it to be one of the "highlights of his training career".
“That was a great night. She was a roughie and the way she came out and won was just amazing,” said Swain.
“I’d like to go back and re-live that night all over again!”
Rue De Kahn's other notable wins include her dual Oaks victories at Richmond and Dapto earlier this year.
She was also one of the most consistent greyhounds in Group races during 2014/15, making seven appearances in various finals across the state.
Swain considers Rue De Kahn one of the best greyhounds he has trained.
“She may not have been the fastest greyhound I’ve ever had but she was the best credentialed,” Swain said.
“Whatever race she was in, I knew she would lift and match it with whoever she was up against.”
She will now head to the breeding barn in the near future with a mating to Fernando Bale a real possibility.
“She's off to Melbourne now and I’m sure we’ll hear some good news soon,” Swain added.
“I’ll hopefully get the pick of the litter to train when her pups hit the ground in a couple of years.”
