Allen Malik has been scratched from Saturday night's Sportingbet Paws Of Thunder at Wentworth Park after suffering an injury.
Trainer Steve Collins said Allen Malik has a torn achilles that he believed happened in the catching pen following his heat win.
"He's got claw marks down that back leg as well so it looks like a dog has jumped on him going into the catching pen," he said.
"It's a real shame because not only is he very talented he is only a young dog as well.
"He'll probably need a couple of months off at this stage and we'll just take it from there."
Another Victorian Peter Rocket (pictured), who finished second to Veyron Bale in 29.50 - the fastest heat last weekend - will now take his place in the field.
This means both reserves will now get at start after the scratching of National Time yesterday paved the way for Wentworth Park track record holder Punch One Out to contest this week's Group 1 event.
Trainer Keith Hellmuth said he was tossing up whether or not to return to Sydney for this week's $15,000 The Collerson but had decided to bypass the race.
"The second last time we went to Sydney we hit a kangaroo so when I decided to stay at home I put the car in to get fixed," Hellmuth said.
"So the drama now is getting up there, but I guess we'll make it somehow.
"It is a $100,000 race so it woud be stupid not to give it a crack."
Allen Malik was drawn to start from box five with National Time in seven, so Peter Rocket and Punch One out will contest a ballot for those boxes after final scratching time on Saturday morning if there are no further withdrawals.
"Peter Rocket really needs an inside box but I guess if I had a choice I would prefer box seven," Hellmuth said.
"There's more chance of getting a clear run from out there."
The box drawn for the Group 1 Sportingbet Paws Of Thunder is:
1 Veyron Bale, 2 Manyana Groper 3, Double Twist, 4 Buckle Up Wes, 5 Allen Malik (scratched), 6 Iona Seven, 7 National Time (scratched), 8 Boyce Road, 9 Punch One Out, 10 Peter Rocket
