It’s not just Sandown Park making its long awaited return to racing this afternoon.
It’s been 49 days since Sandown Park last hosted a race meeting, the longest period of time the venue has gone without racing since the new circuit was built in 1996. While greyhound fans across the country will be delighted to its return, a group of owners across the globe will be even happier to see the brilliant Captain Dynamite return to racing following his own 74 day layoff.
Owned by a syndicate of enthusiastic greyhound racing fans from the United Kingdom, Captain Dynamite announced himself as one of the country’s most exciting staying prospects following a stunning victory on his 595m debut in April. A series of niggling injuries limited his racing following that win, however trainer Kel Greenough has his charge ready to return in a heat of the group 3 Great Chase over 515m this afternoon.
“He’s had a metacarpal injury that’s taken a while to heal,” said trainer Kel Greenough.
“But he’s been trialling well and this looks like a nice race for him.”
Captain Dynamite rounded out his preparations with a trial at Sandown Park on Monday morning – the first greyhound to trial on the restored surface – stopping the clock in 29.56 with a run home of 10.56. Greenough was pleased with his charge’s trial, but also in the condition of the Sandown Park surface having participated in the trial sessions on both Monday and Wednesday.
“It’ll take a few weeks to settle but the new drainage seems to be helping because there wasn’t any water lying on the track despite getting a fair bit of rain on Wednesday morning. I think in three or four weeks people will be raving about how good the track is.”
Race 1 will jump at 2.23pm this afternoon, with Captain Dynamite lining up in race 6 at 4.12pm.
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