Former G1 Hopeful Returns To The Winners List

ONE-time National Derby hopeful Big Otis Banner returned to the winners list for the first time in eight months at Richmond on Saturday.

ONE-time National Derby hopeful Big Otis Banner returned to the winners list for the first time in eight months when successful at Richmond on Saturday morning.

The son of Orson Allen and Are Jai Que was having his fourth run back from a broken hock which had sidelined the hugely talented chaser since December.

"He did it at Wenty just after Christmas – the track was like quicksand that night," trainer Barry Gibbons Jnr said.

"We got it operated on and two pins were inserted and from there it's just been time and plenty of rehab. We used Tvati Oil and found that it has worked as well.

"This was my first major hock injury so it's all been a learning experience."

Before suffering his career threatening hock injury, Big Otis Banner was one of the most exciting young greyhounds in work.

Included in his list of victories were blistering 22.01 and 22.03 performances over the 400 metres at Bulli, while he also recorded a slashing 30.72 over the 535 metres on the old track at Richmond.

"He was mixing it with some very good dogs and running time so we were aiming him towards the National Derby," Gibbons reflected.

"He's a beautiful dog around the kennels so we were always going to give him the chance to return to racing. So far I've just kept him to the straight and he's probably lost a tenth or so at both ends.

"He'll have one more up the straight and then I'll look to take him back to Bulli and see how he handles it. It's hard to plan too far ahead with an injury like he's had."

The Gibbons team have made an artform of winning races at the Richmond Straight since its opening in April last year.

From 69 runners in 2022, Gibbons has won 24 races with a further 22 placings, currently sitting second behind James Porter on the premiership table.

"The aim at the start of the year was to win the Richmond straight track premiership and finish top three at Bulli and we are still on target for that with a good end to the year," Gibbons said.

"The straight provides good experience for young dogs and I'd rather them copping a check up the straight than on the circle early on.

"Everyone has their thoughts but I think if the track was sand it would allow for more trials and for dogs to gain more experience. 

"I'm not sure if there's a way of having a drag on a sand track but if there was I think that would be worth looking at as well."

 

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