Adam Richardson has played the patience game with his star, Mepunga Isla who lines up in the FFA at Sandown Park tonight.

Although her 18 starts for 11-win record looks impressive on paper, it’s what she has had to overcome that sets her apart from the rest.

In December last year, Mepunga Isla contested a heat of the Group 2 Bogie Leigh Queensland Futurity where she unfortunately tore her achillies when finishing fifth.

When she returned to Victoria, Richardson took her to Dr. Des Fegan who was able to operate to repair the injury.

“With the achillies injury I really didn’t know what to expect,” trainer Adam Richardson said.

“There was a lot of time and effort that went into making sure we gave her every opportunity to come back to track.”

“I wanted the achillies to be as strong as it could be which is why there was so much time put into it.”

From swimming to lazering and three-time daily stretches, Richardson left no stone unturned to get her back to the track.

Fast forward five months and the daughter of Cosmic Rumble and Mepunga Rosie is six starts into her return for an impressive six victories – a testament to the dedication Richardson had to getting his kennel star back to the track.

WATCH: Mepunga Isla defeat a handy field at Sandown last start from box seven in a time of 29.750sec.

“I have been blown away with how she has returned because I didn’t know what to expect her comeback to look like following her injury,” Richardson said.

“It looks as though she hasn’t lost anything and has come back really strong.”

A seventh consecutive victory look to be a hard task made that tiny bit easier tonight with the scratching of Group 1 Sapphire Crown winner Black Opium from the FFA at Sandown Park.

But she still has to contend with Tiggerlong Tonk who is drawn in box two.

Mepunga Isla is $11 with TAB and is jumping from box five.

“There are a lot of good dogs in the race and I am just hoping she jumps and finds a bit of luck,” Richardson said.

“It’s a 29.30sec race and she is going to have to find a little bit.”