Injuries have recently plagued the career of outstanding chaser Punch One Out and even trainer Jason MACKAY does not know what to expect when she resumes from box six in heat six of the Group 1 Sportingbet Paws Of Thunder (520m) at Wentworth Park tonight.
Punch One Out (pictured) obliterated the Wentworth Park track record when she sped around the Glebe circuit in 29.27 in a semi-final of the Group 1 Macro Meats Golden Easter Egg at Wentworth Park on March 23 last year, and then, after having no luck in the final a week later, became the first greyhound to go under 30 seconds for the 535m at Richmond when she recorded a staggering 29.90 on April 10.
However, just over a month later she was injured when finishing second to Xylia Allen in the Group 1 Sapphire Crown at Sandown on May 16.
Owner Grant Fennelly then took up the job of nursing Punch One Out back to full fitness, and she won five of her nine starts after resuming on September 2, earning an invitation to contest the Group 1 Topgun at The Meadows on October 26 and the four-dog Shootout at Sandown on November 11.
However, injury struck again and Punch One Out is now back in MACKAY's care and first-up on Saturday night.
"She is in a crackerjack heat and has drawn poorly, not an ideal situation for her first-up," MACKAY said.
"We're just taking it one race at a time with her given the injuries she has suffered.
"Grant did a terrific job with her and she was going good, but then she fractured a sesamoid and also depleted an AC joint.
"She's going into Saturday's race super fresh so we'll just see what happens. We're just crossing our fingers that she pulls up sound."
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