Tommy Brislane’s hopes of returning to racing have suffered another setback but trainer Steve White is keeping faith with his two-time Group winner.
The 2014 NSW Greyhound of the Year finalist (pictured, white rug), one of the state’s most exciting talents in recent years, has been sidelined from racing for almost nine months due to injury.
White’s hopes of a successful return to the track for Tommy Brislane were boosted when the star sprinter enjoyed strong trial runs at Bulli in recent weeks.
Bad luck struck again this week, though, when the greyhound dislocated a toe in the catching pen while trialling – an injury which will sideline him for a few more weeks.
“I’m not usually good with my patience, but I’ve needed it here,” White said ruefully. “You have to have patience with a greyhound as good as him.
“He was going well so this is such a shame, but we’ll carry on with him.
“He went 22.40 over the 400 metres the other morning at Bulli and looked good before this injury happened.
“I still really think there’s good racing in him - if we can just get him fully fit.”
Tommy Brislane made a huge impression last year, winning 12 of his 16 races and earning $160,000 in prizemoney.
He won a thrilling Group 1 Dapto Megastar ahead of the likes of Ritza Hattie, Zipping Willow and Chica Destacada and the Group 2 Bob Payne Spring Sprint, beating a field including Rue De Kahn and Allen Deed, in September last year.
Click here to watch a replay of his Megastar win.
He was injured trialling for the Group 1 Topgun in Melbourne shortly after that race and has not competed since.
White said Tommy Brislane would undergo further assessment on his latest injury, but would likely be kept off racing for about four weeks.
Meanwhile, connections are hoping Magic Display, who has collected almost $70,000 and been a standout NSW performer over the last two years, will return at her home Grafton carnival next month.
The veteran, who has 21 victories from 68 starts, placed in last year’s Gosford Cup and made the 2014 Golden Easter Egg final, been plagued by stomach muscle problems recently.
She had her first trial back this week after being injured again at Dubbo on April 21.
“She went okay, but she is nearly two kilos up on her racing weight,” Len Harris, whose wife Evelyn trains Magic Display. “She was also down about three-tenths on what she can do.
“I still think she has another 12 months’ racing in her. Fingers crossed we can get her right.”
