Locke “gutted” as Headford Asher set for spell on the sidelines
Maxine Locke’s star Headford Asher set for a spell on the sidelines following an injury picked up at Central Park
Locke “gutted” as Headford Asher set for spell on the sidelines
Maxine Locke’s star Headford Asher set for a spell on the sidelines following an injury picked up at Central Park
Headford Asher, brilliant winner of the Hove Puppy Cup back in April and beaten favourite in the JR Racing Puppy Trophy Final at Towcester in June, is set for a spell on the sidelines having picked up a hock injury in a trial at Central Park on Friday.
Asher, who was one of four greyhounds who lined up in solo trials with a eye on the forthcoming Premier Greyhound Racing Kent Derby, had trialled well, recording 16.31, only bettered by Headford Dane (16.17) and Ballymac Blanco (16.18), but trainer Maxine Locke reported that the injury occurred after the trial on the way round to the pick up
“He trialled well but he broke his hock on the bend after the line and we are all gutted” said Locke yesterday morning
“He’s been operated on already, we got him operated on Friday afternoon. We literally got back from the track, got in the car and took him up there. We are hopeful that he can make a recovery and make it back on the track but we aren’t going to know for a while”
“He’s got two screws in there that will need to be removed before he can run again, so we will know later down the line. He is only young and he’s only just turned two so he has plenty of time”
It has proved to be a frustrating few days for Locke as problems with the hare at Doncaster meant that rising star Turnthemagicon missed out on a spin round before racing on Saturday while another runner, Mr Funky Monk, who was well fancied when making all the running over the 450m trip at 8/11F, has also picked up an injury and will need some time off
“Unfortunately, the hare broke down in trials before racing so we are going back on Monday so he can have a look round for the Yorkshire Derby on Saturday. Doncaster did offer us a trial after racing but he get’s really wound up. He’s a good traveller but a bad kenneller so to wait around until after racing having already heard the first lot of trials and racing wouldn’t have been a good idea for him, so we are going back on Monday morning”
“That’s greyhound racing though, one day you have a massive high and then all of a sudden you’re back to reality and things go wrong and you plan things which don’t happen”
Locke continued “We had a dog who went lame at Doncaster last night who won his race. Mr Funky Monk has come out this morning with swollen wrists so he will be going up to vets on Monday morning and hopefully it’s nothing too serious and that there’s no bone damage
”
Turnthemagicon will be Locke’s entry into what is looking to be a red hot Category Two Yorkshire Derby which starts this Saturday and is hopeful of a bold showing
“He looks good enough but the distance may be pushing him but we don’t know yet. Hopefully he can get himself to the front early and can stay there but we won’t know until we try”
