Hay Fergus faces four weeks on the sidelines after once again being struck down by injury problems.
Brett May’s gun greyhound was due to make his Wentworth Park debut on Wednesday night (race three) but strained a hock ligament while winning at Bulli last Thursday.
Hay Fergus has looked one of the hottest prospects in NSW having won his first three starts following a spectacular performance trial in which he broke the 400m Bulli track record.
May (pictured with Hay Fergus and wife Deborah) said he believed something was amiss with the boom pup when he won at Bulli last Thursday.
“When he ran wide at Bulli on the home turn the other night, that concerned me,” May said.
“He’s also a much faster greyhound than the 26.12 he ran there. He’s had this recurring problem, so we are erring on the side of caution and having a couple of weeks off.
“It’s not career-threatening but obviously hock injuries are a concern (so) we’ll take it nice and steady with him.”
Hay Fergus initially caught the eye when he smashed the 400m Bulli track record with a 22.14 performance trial in July.
He then went just 0.02 outside the old record with a brilliant 13-length win on debut, before scoring two further victories at Bulli over the 472m.
May said he was aiming Hay Fergus for a return to racing in four weeks.
“He’s been so unlucky with injuries,” May said.
“Trying to get him fit for the 500 metres is obviously the hardest part as well with these setbacks.
“It’s just a shame that he cannot show the public just how fast he is (but) we will keep working on him.”
There is better news for another promising newcomer, Tilly’s Boy.
The son of Lochinvar Marlow and Cosmic Essence, who lost out to track record holder Fantastic Dotty by a head in the recent Group 3 Dapto Maiden, makes his city debut jumping from box two in race one at Wentworth Park.
DEAN Swain’s hot pup scored his fourth win in seven starts with a 30.11 triumph at Dapto last Friday night.
For Wentworth Park Wednesday fields, form and expert picks, click here.
