Extremely encouraging return for Betfair Star

Betfair Star / Editor / 25 August 2008 / Leave a Comment

Our dog was impressive on return from a six week absence.

Betfair Star returned an extremely encouraging 16.58sec (going minus 0.5sec) in a solo trial before racing over 285 metres at Hove on Saturday. It was the first time our dog had been on the track since he sustained a shoulder injury at Walthamstow on July 8.

To put the run into perspective the Jason Heath-trained Chubbys Premier posted 16.46sec (going minus 0.5sec) when comfortably landing a top heat sprint at Hove during Friday's BAGS meeting.

Teresa Cahill, wife of trainer Seamus and also his assistant, said: "It was a good performance from Betfair Star, especially as he has been off the card for quite a while. We will give him another sprint at Hove next Saturday and then monitor his progress."

The trial was the first step in the rehabilitation of the son of Head Bound. He will continue to receive treatment for his shoulder and he will also have another hand gallop in the week before heading back to Hove at the weekend.

"Obviously we have to keep a close eye on how he is doing and we won't make a decision about when he will have his first four bend trial back until we are sure he is ready for it," said Teresa.

Betfair Star had been graded at Walthamstow, where he failed to loose his maiden tag in three starts, when he sustained his injury. The closure of the Stow on August 16 and the subsequent move to Hove by Seamus means that Betfair Star will have to re-qualify to run in graded races at the track.

That will mean that Betfair Star, who will be a puppy until September, must compete in at least two mixed trials over 515 metres at Hove before he will be graded to race at the track, although he may first qualify to race in graded sprint races.