Rejuvenate On Verge Of Silver Chief Stardom

GIFTED youngster Rejuvenate can race his way into Silver Chief folklore when he takes his place in the $100,000-to-the-winner finale at The Meadows on Saturday night.

The son of boom young stud dog Hooked On Scotch booked his place in the time-honoured group 1 with a jaw-dropping 29.47 heat victory at the weekend. 

The time, the quickest ever on debut at The Meadows, was only 1 ½ lengths outside Allen Deed's long-standing track record and was the eighth quickest of all time.

Not bad for a wet behind the ears pup which has faced the starter on just 12 occasions for 10 dazzling wins and a further two seconds.

What a city debut ?

REJUVENATE has thrashed his rivals by almost 11 lengths in the second heat of the #SilverChief at @MelbourneGreys.

He will be tough to beat in next Saturday night's Group 1 final. pic.twitter.com/1o4ANllPAI

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) December 3, 2022

"Saturday night's heat was his first ever full 500," said Paul Brown who trains the prodigious talent with parents Ian and Maureen.

"We'd given him a box-to-box and he went 17.80s up the back when nothing else on the day broke 18s so we knew he was where we wanted him going into the weekend.

"But he still had to come out and do it and the most pleasing thing was that he produced it at the start, in the middle and at the finish. That's what the really good ones do.

"You'd like to think there's a bit of improvement there going into this week as well."

Tipping the scales at an imposing 38 kilos, Rejuvenate's unbridled ability is accompanied by a fierce competitive streak which was on full display in the hustle and bustle of Saturday night's slashing heat success.

"He didn't break-in the greatest but has just kept learning and improving," Brown added about the recently turned two-year-old.

"It's hard to know what his ceiling is but at the moment the world is his oyster. 

"After he won the (Group 3) Northern Districts Cup I took him to Bendigo for a trial and he was the last of the session. The best was 24.11 and he went 23.50 at his first look at the track.

"Everywhere you take him he runs fast times and records. He's just a special animal with it all ahead of him."

Rejuvenate has drawn box two for Saturday night's Silver Chief while Amron Boy, the fastest qualifier at 29.45, will exit box three.

"I wanted to draw inside Amron Boy so that box is ticked," Brown said.

"To be honest the draw is great. Landyn Bale is drawn the red and on sections I think can lead so hopefully he gives us a drag into the race.

The box draw has been conducted for next Saturday night's Group 1 #SilverChief at @MelbourneGreys

1⃣ LANDYN BALE
2⃣ REJUVENATE
3⃣ AMRON BOY
4⃣ AMRON DAN
5⃣ SCOFFLAW
6⃣ FALSE CONFIDENCE
7⃣ TRIUMPH
8⃣ EULER BALE

9⃣ SHOWMAN JACK
? TINKER NORM

Which greyhound is your early tip? pic.twitter.com/ffKmCApfaO

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) December 3, 2022

"We'd like to think there's a bit of improvement from the heat to the final. He'll have a very easy week, he's that strong he doesn't need a lot of work between runs."

If Rejuvenate can race his way to Silver Chief stardom it will prove a momentous occasion for industry stalwarts Ian and Maureen Brown.

"If we could win it would be very special for my parents," Brown added.

"They've been stalwarts of the industry for five-six decades and haven't won a group 1. That would be the most satisfying part for me to see them win a big one."

It was only last week that Brown engaged in 11th hour discussions with The Phoenix slot holder Peter Sadler about Rejuvenate potentially taking his place in the $1.65 showpiece at The Meadows on Saturday week.

"We had some discussions but in the end it just didn't come together from both sides," Brown said.

"It would have probably been a bit too soon for the dog but it was great to at least have the talks with Peter who was great to deal with.

"Who knows for us a race like that next year could be on the radar. And the race I've always wanted to win since I was a kid was the Golden Easter Egg.

"But for now we'll just worry about Saturday night. I can't wait."

Race sponsor Sportsbet have Amron Boy a $2.20 favourite for the Silver Chief ahead of Rejuvenate at $2.50.