Sydney greyhound fans will have to wait a little while longer to see the dog acclaimed by many as the fastest in the country.
Multiple Group winning dog Hooked On Scotch was to head north from Victoria for the Group 1 Paws Of Thunder at Wentworth Park later this month, but an injury in the heats of the Group 2 Warragul Cup last Friday has seen trainer Jason Thompson abandon those plans.
Hooked On Scotch, who had won the Group 1 Hobart Thousand before heading to Warragul, would have been a short-priced favourite to add to his impressive tally of victories in Saturday’s Warragul Cup Final after a blistering heat win, but the sprinter pulled up sore after the heats, and it has been confirmed that the injury is a slight tear to a ligament behind the stopper bone.
The injury will see Hooked On Scotch sidelined for six to eight weeks, and will also mean he will miss the $250,000 Group 1 Australian Cup at The Meadows in February.
Thompson said that while he won’t rush Hooked On Scotch, the likely target race will now be the $250,000 Group 1 Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg at Wentworth Park in March and April.
Last Friday’s win improved Hooked On Scotch’s record to 12 wins and six placings from 19 starts, and too his bank balance to just shy of $350,000.
