Hobby trainer Sergio Forner could not hide his disappointment on Tuesday with having to scratch his greyhound Forners Flame from Thursday’s TAB Million Dollar Chase Regional Final at Dapto.
Forners Flame had qualified for the final after a thrilling heat win last Thursday, running down Group 2 Black Top runner-up, Left Unsaid.
Having drawn box two for the final, Forners Flame - one of only two greyhounds in Forner’s kennel - was considered one of the main chances for the Regional Final, and tipped to finish in the top three and advance to the TAB Million Dollar Chase semi-finals on October 9 at Wentworth Park.
“I’ve had to unfortunately scratch her from the race at Dapto,” Forner said on Tuesday. “She pulled up fine from the heat, and I slipped her on Sunday and she seemed fine again.
“But I get my dogs checked on a Tuesday, and thankfully I did, as it was discovered she has a torn hip support from the thigh.
“It’s very disappointing and she’ll be out for a couple of months, but the main thing is we found it and she didn’t do any more damage to it, and she will be ok.”
When interviewed after the heat success, Forner declared that Forners Flame is the best greyhound he has ever raced, stating: “I've never had a dog so talented”.
He also said that making the MDC semi-finals would be beyond his wildest expectations, but unfortunately that will have to wait for another year.
