Copperhead Rogue To Be A Pick Me Up For Scott

OWNER Shannon Scott has had a pretty tough past month and is hoping her super Northern Rivers sprinter Copperhead Rogue can turn around her luck in the heats of the Group 2 Bendigo Cup (425m) on Sunday.

The son of Sulzanti-Dixie Trick comes out of box five against a tough field for new trainer Kel Greenough.

Shannon and her partner, the dog's usual trainer Steve Keep, sent the dog south two weeks ago specifically for the Bendigo Cup but any other speed races coming up for him in Victoria also.

“There was nothing coming up for the dog around here, especially since the Grafton July carnival had been abandoned,” said Steve.

Copperhead Rogue has won 19 of his 39 starts but the past five have all been wins at Grafton over 407m in FFA class, breaking the 23-second barrier each time.

The dog already holds the Grafton first section record at 8.20.

“Nothing else even gets near 8.30,” said Keep.

Greenough trialled Copperhead Rogue at Bendigo last Saturday and he went 24.11 on a wet track and he admitted to Keep he was disappointed with the trial. But the speedster's first two sections were the best of the day.

Keep convinced Greenough the dog would be much improved come race day on Sunday.

“Kel is keen to keep him with him and the Healesville Cup is coming up so that is a real bonus,” said Keep.

Owner Shannon underwent a four-hour hernia operation a month ago which resulted in the surgeon finding other internal problems that needed to be repaired.

“Then she got crook a week ago and had to be taken back to hospital,” said Steve.

“She lost 10 kilos and she doesn't have 10 kilos to lose.

“But she's been fine since she came home and looking forward to the dog running well on Sunday. Fingers crossed.”