Fernando Grand Back From The Brink For Cup

FERNANDO Grand is back from the brink to chase the Publicans' Cup (520m) at Albion Park on Thursday night.

Trainer Gary Mackay explained on Tuesday the dog had lost 10 kilos through a severe bout of acidosis back in March and at one stage he was hoping only that the son of Fernando Bale and Precious Sal would recover let alone race again.

“My local vet, a lot of knowledge and the support of good mates with great advice helped get him through,” said Gary.

FIELDS AND FORM ALBION PARK THURSDAY

“And since he has come back to racing, he has won seven of his 15 starts.”

One of those was last week's heat of the Publicans' Cup when he ran 30.08 to beat classy Cash View.

A 38 kilo dog, Fernando Grand had already been a finalist in the G2 Queensland Derby and the Listed Rising Stars at Albion Park.

“He is a very excitable dog especially in the kennels on race night,” explained Gary.

“I probably brought him back from a spell one run too quick when he ran at Ipswich in a feature race back in March.

“He came down with acidosis and lost about 10 kilos.

“My local vet was great with her help and giving me some pain killers for him, but with my own knowledge and the support of mates, we got him through. He was looked after hour by hour.

“I would not have cared if he never raced again.

“But, he seems to have come back better than ever. To look at him, he is perfect. You would not know today that anything had happened to him.”

Fernando Grand has drawn the rails in Thursday night's final even though Gary would like him a little bit further out.

“The three would have been good again,” he said.

“But, I'm hoping he can get a run up on the fence and into the race.

“It is a very good field. And, he's going great.

“If he did not play up in the kennels, he would be a 29.80 dog around Albion Park. But, he is what he is.”

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SELENA Zammit's boom youngsters, Sennachie and Kealoah littermates Jay Is Jay and All Natural run in Novices (520m) on Thursday night and both are hot favourites.

Jay Is Jay ran 29.78 to win an Albion Park Maiden in June the second fastest ever run by a maiden at the track.

And, All Natural broke the track record for 395m running 22.13 on Sunday night in a four-dog clearance trial. Tyanna Belle holds the record at 22.16.

One of those to finish behind him in the trial was top grade star and G1 finalist, kennelmate See Them Try, the winner of his past three at headquarters.