Sprinting Powerhouse Sidelined With Injury

THE career of sprinting powerhouse Nangar Rust is in the balance after the son of Bella Infrared cracked a hock in a trial at Goulburn earlier this week.

"It's cracked, not completely shattered which is something," said the dog's trainer Mick Hardman on Thursday.

"Matt Kwong is operating today; he'll have a synthetic pin put in place which won't need to come out. All up we're probably looking at six months but we'll know more in eight or 12 weeks on how it's healing."

Winner at seven of his 11 appearances, Nangar Rust's remarkable winning times have created plenty of headlines in recent months for Hardman and owner Ray Tanti.

Those mind-boggling efforts led of course by his "unofficial" 28.95 Sandown Park record trial in March, before stepping out and recording a scintillating 29.36 under race conditions.

"Ray's been great; he's taking it better than me," Hardman added.

"I gave the dog his first trial back from Melbourne at Wentworth Park last week and he went 23.81 post-to-post with an 11.30 run home. They just don't do that.

"Then he went 24.60 in the trial at Goulburn but to be honest I thought he'd go 24.30 odd the way he's going – even on a slow track. But he limped off the track which told the story."

Nangar Rust was due to go around in the opening event at Wentworth Park on Saturday night, with Hardman confident that his powerhouse chaser was at the top of his game for his racing return.

"I'm trying to stay as good as I can about it all," Hardman added.

"This happens to everyone and it's just part of racing. He'll get the best care and every chance to return.

"If there's a silver lining it's that we can draw some straws from him while he's off. We've had quite a few people interested in using him, being a son of Bella Infrared is a big plus for him."