Superstar stayer Palawa King has been included in the field for the Group 1 Rookie Rebel (600m) at The Meadows on Saturday night.
The five-time Group 1 winner was selected by panel of experts to make his long-awaited return to group-level racing after recently returning from five-month injury enforced layoff.
“He’s never been in the Rookie Rebel before but he does love The Meadows,” an excited Jack Smith said upon learning the news.
“He won the Fanta Bale down there and ran well in the Zoom Top (third in 2024) as well. He’s had a few looks over the 600m there before too and he won them both well.”
That pair of wins coming way back in July and August of 2023, with his best effort of 34.18 roughly three lengths outside Dyna Double One’s track record of 33.91.
Smith intent on keeping ‘The King’ fresh for a tilt at more feature race success, with his two runs this preparation coming over the 605m at Dubbo and 520m at Wentworth Park.
“The 600m run was good. I don’t particularly like him racing at Dubbo because he doesn’t usually run that well out there but he went up to what I was hoping,” Smith added.
“Then I wanted him to have a quiet week in the hope we got into the Rookie Rebel. So we threw in at Wenty Park over 520m because he doesn’t need a lot of work to run 600m.”
“We were hoping for a masters race but we ran into a 29.14 dog in Jungle Johnny….he’s only ever been beaten that far once before in his life so he probably won’t be favourite because they’ll all be querying the run, but I’m confident he will run a big race.”
“I worked him this morning [Monday] up the straight at home and he’s ready to go. He’s got nothing left to prove but he’s never been in the Rookie Rebel before and it’s come along at a time when he’s nice and fresh. He’s obviously going to be out the back but hopefully he runs on.”
The race, named after the 1957 Melbourne Cup and Australian Cup winner Rookie Rebel, was won last year by Raider’s Guide, with the Tasmanian star set to defend his title in this year’s event.
Meanwhile, Palawa King is preparing to have his 77th race start for connections who were recently honoured with a community recognition statement by the Honourable Phil Donato MP, Member for Orange.
“Normally I’m not fussed by these things but it’s a big plus for greyhound racing to see him recognised,” Smith said.
“It’s good to see the community are behind greyhound racing in the region, they’re happy for us to be around, and to know ‘The King’ has provided them with plenty to cheer about is a great thing.”
The $100,000 Fanta Bale final (730m) will also be contested on the same card, with fellow NSW-chaser Late Night News qualifying for Caroline Hughes.
The son of Fernando Bale x Zipping Kelly ran second behind Unreal Speed in his preliminary on Saturday night, continuing his great form after a third-placed finish in the Group 1 Gold Cup at Albion Park last month.
"Can you believe it? Pretty exciting...I've been running around like a blue ass you know what, but what Late Night News and his brother [West Rock Casey] have done in a short period of time and at their age, it's kind of mind boggling" an excited Hughes said.
"I think his run on Saturday was pretty good, he got a little bump which made him shift wide a bit and go around the field instead of staying on the rail which didn't help. But he ran half a second faster under race conditions than he did in a solo trial the week before so that's good."
"Unreal Speed is a great dog but I think Ethanol Water is the dog to beat. She's normally out in front of the field and she won the big race up north so we'll have to run her down...I'm just hoping for the best and excited to be there."
The 2025 Rookie Rebel and Fanta Bale Super Stayers will be run this Saturday, February 22, at The Meadows.
