Mepunga Reward is on the fringe of returning to racing for the first time since the Launching Pad final in March.
Prior to injuring his hock in the Launching Pad, he won seven of his 12 starts and was regarded as one of the most promising sprinters in the country and gave indication that he could be a weapon over 600 metres or further.
His first trial back was scary fast, but his second didn’t match it, as trainer Jeff Britton told George Farrugia and myself on RSN’s Grey Areas.
“It looks like he’ll be returning to racing soon,” said Britton.
“His first run back was about three weeks ago and his time (22.13, Geelong 400m) shocked me.”
A time that’s a tick over two lengths off the track record held by Unleash Collinda.
“I was so happy to see him go around, run time and pull up with no lameness. But after that much time off it flattened him a little bit.”
However, the subsequent trial wasn’t as impressive as the first.
“It’s been three weeks since that trial, he went around again last night and didn’t go as well. He went 22.65, so I’m starting to wonder about things now and I can’t work it out.”
While Jeff has a bit of a situation on his hands, the bottom line is Mepunga Reward is back up and running with a return to racing somewhat imminent.
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