Showground Larry went around last night at Cannington and the initial appearance of the run looked almost as disgraceful as the AFL and local media?s effort on last nights Derby in England. After last weeks impressive second placing we we?re hoping he would get around again unscathed and get another run under his belt. We knew Harry in the eight box, trained by dockerland?s other trainer Linda Britton, had us covered but was just getting around safely too much to ask? Which one of you blokes has run over a china man?

Showground Larry, as we all know, loves the fence and struggles when he can?t get across. So he jumped from box three and immediately headed left. Unfortunately the red dog wanted to get wide and held us up a fraction in doing so. In any case Larry pushed across and found the rails into the first bend where he was able to slide around and miss the interference. Down the back he was in fourth place and traveling beautifully. Harry Reltub was in front of him so he had no hope of winning but a second successive podium finish was looking likely with a noted stopper in Dream High just a few lengths in his sights. If Larry could get home in his 11.70 seconds then third was looking sweet and possibly second place wasn?t impossible.

Larry was catching Dream High as though it was standing still all while managing to keep the others behind him. He was traveling as well as anything at that time. Then approaching the 642 metre boxes tragedy struck. He instantly shortened stride and dropped back sharply. Larry suddenly took on a striking resemblance to Travis Gaspar in trying to keep up with Barry Hall. The Showground doesn?t spit it so you knew something had gone wrong. He desperately tried to keep going but the obvious pain from the obtained injury was too much and he knocked up finishing last, four lengths from the 7th placed dog.

It appears Larry has done some slight damage to a muscle on the shoulder. We can?t catch a break. He has just gotten back from a serious foot injury and after looking like getting a few much needed race miles in his legs this then happens. I checked Helen and Pete Sayer?s payroll just too make sure Adam Larcom wasn?t drawing a wage. Thankfully I can report he is not.

While the injury was enough to cause Larry?s capitulation last night, the early diagnosis is that it is very minor and he possibly won?t be back on the sidelines. It?s an injury that will be healed in a few days with constant treatment and he could be right to go around next week. So like what you have to do when you?re at a night club with a few Eagles, the dockerland Syndicate dodged a bullet.

Without missing a beat, Craig Evans beautifully snuck in short sharp crack at us in the call believing Larry realized who its owners are and threw in the towel. I don?t want to say it was a cheap shot but we cashed it in and couldn?t even buy Telstra shares with the proceeds! So that suggests it was possibly in the bargain bin. You have to give credit where it?s due. It was very well timed, nicely delivered and Craig didn?t break stride. As we hand out enough stick we have to cop it when it comes back at us.

Stay tuned for the Showground?s progress and hopefully we?ll be doing it all over again next Saturday night.