Star Youngster Scratched From St. Leger

SATURDAY night's Warragul St. Leger has been robbed of one of its major drawcards with Paua Of Buddy to be scratched from the Group 3 final.

The gifted son of Aston Dee Bee qualified for the $25,000-to-the-winner final with an eye-catching second to dual Group 1 winner Qwara Bale in last Friday's heats.

But after pulling up worse for wear after his gut-busting heat exploits, trainer Steve White has elected to scratch his budding young star from Saturday night's star-studded final.

"He was really lethargic after the heat and was out of sorts for a few days there," White said.

"I had to get a few bags of fluid through him and even though he's a lot better now I won't be risking running him on Saturday. He's far too valuable for that and I just want to do what's right by the dog.

"And for now that's a few weeks of rest."

Winner at five of his eight starts, Paua Of Buddy has produced some blinding times to begin his career under the tutelage of White.

But Friday night's St. Leger heats was his first time out of restricted grade company, a test he passed with flying colours.

"I thought his run was sensational," White said.

"To give a bitch like Qwara Bale four or five lengths and run her to 1 ¼ proved to me he's the real deal. To work as hard as he did early and get that close I thought was outstanding.

"He left everything out there on the track and after how he's been this week if he went out and produced another gust-buster he'd be worse again.

"There's plenty ahead of him down the line. That experience will be great for him."

Paua Of Buddy's scratching has robbed Saturday night's Group 3 finale as one of its major chances.

Setting the pace for the final is the Jason Thompson-trained Aston Fastnet which rocketed to victory in 25.39.

Joining Aston Fastnet in the $25,000-to-the-winner final is prodigious talent Koblenz, Australian Cup finalist Shima Classic and two-time Group 1 winner Qwara Bale.

Paua Of Buddy's scratching hands the Joe Borg-trained Black Avenger a start from box three.