A foot injury has ruled boom Sydney sprinter Pindari Express out of the last round of Melbourne Cup Preludes, putting the Tracey Scruse-trained greyhound out of the $630,000 Group 1 series.
Pindari Express, who is unbeaten in six NSW starts at Bulli and Maitland, was runner-up in a heat and final of the Group 3 Warragul St Leger in August but has not raced since.
"He clocked 29.85 in his first Wentworth Park 520m trial and when I took him to Sandown for a look at the track he recorded 29.45 over the 515m Melbourne Cup course,'' Scruse said.
"I have had awful luck with him because he had to miss the Million Dollar Chase series through injury and last week he knocked the top off a stopper pad in a post-to-post hit-out at Wentworth Park.
"My intention had been to head back to Melbourne for a Melbourne Cup Prelude on November 8 but this latest setback has ended that plan.''
xxxx
JOHN Finn, who has enjoyed a tremendous year with champion stayer Poco Dorado and her siblings Two Times Twice, Blue Moon Rising and Veloce Nero, unveiled a pair of promising unraced youngsters at Richmond on Tuesday.
The Cranebrook trainer won a performance trial with Winsome Bailey, who led throughout to comfortably defeat his litter brother and kennelmate Winsome Logan in a nippy 22.72sec.
Winsome Bailey and Winsome Logan, just 20 months old, are by Dyna Double One from Winsome Amanda, whose previous litter to Fernando Bale produced Winsome Money, a winner of five races at Wentworth Park for Finn.
xxxx
WHEN Northern Rivers trainer Dave Irwin brought That's Lil Vicki to Wentworth Park for the Magic Maiden series in March he was concerned the greyhound was lacking sufficient field experience.
That's Lil Vicki reached the semi-finals, finishing fourth to Winlock Huddy, but since then has swept all before her, winning seven of nine races at the provincials.
She produced her best performance at Lismore's Ladbrokes Park on Tuesday night when she scored an emphatic win in the 520m John Stollery Final, stopping the clock at a sizzling 29.63sec.
Not only was that time .03sec faster than Raven Izmir posted in winning the Group 2 Lismore Workers Cup on the same card, but was a mere .25sec outside the course record held by Grand Prix Dryva.
That's Lil Vicki is now a vastly different race bitch to the "green'' youngster Sydney fans saw at Wentworth Park during this year's Easter Carnival and looms as a future star at headquarters.
xxxx
Jamella Jet, runner-up to Mystic Riot in the GRNSW + Ladbrokes Million Dollar Chase at Wentworth Park on October 20, resumes in heat one of the annual Business House Challenge at Maitland on Thursday.
While the 450m would appear to be a little short for Jamella Jet, who has a habit of missing the jump, the dog's blistering best Maitland time of 24.89 and his suitable box seven draw will ensure he steps out as favourite.
In heat two Another Grey, a litter sister to Wentworth Park star Finale, has box three for trainer Warren Harper.
Another Grey broke 30sec in two 520m wins at Dapto in August and resumed from a spell to finish second over a less suitable 400m at Maitland on October 16.
She should relish the additional 50m of her Challenge heat.
