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Tasmanian Hall of Fame trainer Gary Fahey is confident his champion, Raider’s Guide, is well and truly on track in an attempt to secure back-to-back victories in the Group 1 Rookie Rebel (600m) at The Meadows on Saturday night.

In the 22-year history of the invitation-only middle-distance feature, no greyhound has ever won the Rookie Rebel in consecutive years. However, No Shame and Jarick Bale have come so close to achieving this feat.

Having their prize chaser recognised by selectors and accepted into the $75,000 decider for the second time is something 80-year-old Gary Fahey is extremely proud of, with the dog being bred and trained from Tasmania.

The son of Zambora Brockie lines up from box 7 as the $5 second elect against an outstanding field.

“It is certainly a great honour to be accepted into the field,” stated trainer Gary Fahey ahead of Saturday’s event.

“Raider’s Guide was very dominant in winning the race last year, although he hasn’t held his form as great as we want it to be, he did have a bit of an injury, but his last few runs here in Tasmania have been good in my opinion.”

Raider’s Guide has performed tremendously throughout his 70 starts for Gary and Greg Fahey, winning 36 races and group race victories, including the Group 1 Rookie Rebel and the Group 1 National Distance Championship.

The campaign heading into Saturday’s Rookie Rebel decider included a victory in Launceston winning the Viv Berresford Memorial over 600 metres and a solo trial at the same distance running 34.49 seconds a week later.

“The draw (box 7) is not too bad for him, I don’t think,” Gary said in his assessment of the field for the Group 1.

“I would prefer to be drawn out wide rather in boxes 3, 4 or 5 as there are many good dogs drawn to our inside.

“We’ve given Raider’s Guide enough work at home after those runs at Launceston so he should be in good shape.”

The Fahey’s are no strangers to competing in elite races with Raider’s Guide through his career. Racing against the likes of Stomping, Zipping Kai, Palawa King, and Ethanol Volume makes for a thrilling race in the Rookie Rebel.

“You would expect to be facing such a quality line-up in these races. The draw is similar to last year in the Rookie Rebel, where in the Hume Cup he was drawn on the inside, and they just crossed on top of him,” Gary stated.

“If Raider’s Guide comes out good and maintains his position from out wide, I think he will be very hard to beat.”

Original article written by Brennan Ryan for Tas Racing