Record-breaking sprinter Paua Of Oscar’s stop-start career will resume in Sunday’s Group 3 Healesville Cup heats (350m).
There’s absolutely no doubting Paua Of Oscar’s talent, he incredibly equalled the Warragul 400m track record at just his third start in March; however since making his debut back in July, 2019, he’s been restricted to only 13 starts, winning seven.
“He won a heat of the Zoom Top Maiden at Goulburn about a year ago but injured ligaments in a toe and was out for six months,” said trainer Steve White, who also prepared Paua Of Oscar’s champion great grand-dam Paua To Burn.
“He came back and had his first start in Victoria in January but he hurt another toe and he was out for another two months.
“He’s been lightly-raced but he’s a fast dog.”
Paua Of Oscar hasn’t been seen in action since late July when he was beaten in both heat and final of a fifth grade series at Horsham where he started at $1.10 and $1.20 respectively, with White believing those failures can be attributed to a former star kennelmate.
“I put it down to Tauwitchere coming on season,” White said.
“He didn’t seem himself and didn’t want to be there. But he’s had a break and since then he’s been a different dog attitude-wise.
“I’ve given him two trials at Healesville and he’s gone pretty good. He seems to be going okay and a bit of a break and a change might have been good for him.”
Paua Of Oscar has drawn box five in the seventh Cup heat (race 8 to jump at 1.07pm), where he’s $3.20 in TAB’s market, with Shepparton Cup winner Hard Style Rico (box 7), which is on debut at Healesville, the $1.60 favourite.
“I don’t know if box five is ideal but if he gets a clear run he’s definitely a chance,” said White.
White is hoping Paua Of Oscar can remain sound and help fill the sizeable void left by retired Victorian Greyhound of the Year finalist Sennachie, which he says is enjoying a promising start to his stud career.
“Sennachie is flying at stud,” White said.
“The demand is great. He’s served 40-something bitches now and he’s having big litters and big pups.
“From the eight or nine litters that have been born he’s got 80-90 pups on the ground and they’re unbelievably multi-coloured too.”
