Super sprinter Wow has been scratched from Friday's Group 2 Richmond Derby Final following a swabbing irregularity.
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The white and brindle son of Fernando Bale was the pre-post favourite for the $40,000 to-the-winner series yet, under Greyhounds Australasia rules, no greyhound can again compete, following a positive swab, until a clear sample has been obtained.
The Mercury understands the positive urine sample returned by Wow was following his impressive Group 1 Paws Of Thunder win at Wentworth Park on January 23.
He subsequently secured the $100,000 to-the-winner Temlee at The Meadows on February 13 before successive runner-up efforts in heats of the Australian Cup on February 20 and to Avalanche in a near record 30.07 seconds at Richmond on February 27.
In each of three subsequent starts following the Paws Of Thunder, no swab has been returned from analysts - forcing his withdrawal from Richmond.
The confirmatory B-sample of the swab is still to be determined but, once a clear swab is received by the NSW Greyhound Racing Integrity Commission, Wow can start again.
Like all prohibited substance matters, the presumption of innocence is paramount and only when the B sample confirms an irregularity, will action be taken.
In recent times, some B-samples have failed to confirm initial analysis and no action follows.