Achilles Injury May End Postman Pat's Career

SUPERSTAR Postman Pat's chances of racing again after an Achilles tendon injury are 70-30 against.

That's the opinion of Luke Thompson whose dad Jason trains the dog for Kiwi owner Jose Arthur.

The son of Hooked On Scotch and Birdie Tee was on the comeback trail after a brief spell and had already trialled brilliantly in two runs before he injured the tendon in a Shepparton trial.

“We are giving him every single chance to come back to racing,” said Luke.

“But, at this stage it looks like he will need at least five months off.

“And, as everyone knows, it is very tough to get a dog back from an Achilles tendon injury, especially when they are top grade dogs like him.”

Postman Pat, winner of 24 of his 37 starts and $543,000, will be rising four when he is likely to be put back into training later in the year.

???? Postman Pat delivers in his first official race look at the @BrisGreys 520 tonight in a dominant trial prior to the $1m Brisbane Cup in two week's time ???? pic.twitter.com/hzIIZvsgdh

— RaceQ (@RaceQLD) June 22, 2023

“Of course we will monitor his recovery and see if a comeback is possible,” said Luke.

Postman Pat, bred in New Zealand where he broke a track record and won a Group 3, was sent to the Thompson kennel early in 2023.

He made an immediate impression with some scintillating times, but he could never quite crack it for a major race win.

He was second in the G1 Brisbane Cup and The Phoenix and third in the Million Dollar Chase and made the final of the G1 National Sprint.

“We would have loved to win a Group 1 for his owners and the New Zealand racing community,” said Luke.

“He deserved it. I thought his run to get second to Elite Machine in the Brisbane Cup was phenomenal especially after he missed the start off the eight box.”

Postman Pat is expected to be in huge demand in a stud career in Australia.