Brisbane Summer Riches On Radar For Pepper

STAR WA sprinter Panama Pepper will not be ready for a tilt at the upcoming Group 1 Sportsbet Melbourne Cup (515m) series at Sandown Park.

Trainer Steve Withers said this today of the son of Superior Panama and Starlight Bella which sliced open a foot when running last to Zipping Maserati at Wentworth Park on September 24.

The heats of the Melbourne Cup will be run on November 18.

The winner of 20 races from 34 starts and $112,000 in stakes, Panama Pepper “sliced a foot to the bone” in the race which obviously required stitching.

“He had four and a half weeks off but is back in work now,” said Withers.

“He could be ready to have a start at the end of this month and we will target a feature race or two at Cannington before looking to head over east for major races again.”

WA visitor PANAMA PEPPER continues his unbeaten form out of box two and dashes clear to win by five lengths in heat three of the Group 2 Flying Amy Classic! This chaser is going to be hard to beat come final time next week ? #QLDisRacing?@BrisGreys pic.twitter.com/yv4Dsd8Zk0

— RaceQ (@RaceQLD) June 9, 2022

Withers said he had thought about the Hobart 1000 series but that too could be too close.

“It is a race that requires a very strong dog and he would need to be very fit and at the top of his game,” said Withers.

“My feeling at this stage is that he could be ready to take to Albion Park for the Summer Carnival in January.

“He knows the track so there will be no need to trial there.”

Withers is also expecting the New Year to see the first progeny by champion Tommy Shelby hit the racetrack.

The dog has been hugely popular since going to stud and the very first of his offspring are only now going to be educated.

“I've rung around to a few of those with his pups and the reports are great,” he said.

“The overwhelming feature is they are natural chasers.

“We are still selling plenty of straws so that is the perfect guide from breeders about his first pups.”

The G1 Australian Cup, Golden Easter Egg and Hobart 1000 winner, Tommy Shelby won 31 races and earned $1.02 million.

The son of Fernando Bale-Serena Fly High was also second in the G1 Vic Peters and third in the Million Dollar Chase, G1 Melbourne Cup and G1 Gold Bullion.