“Heartbreaking” Last Hurrah Out Of Rookie Rebel

TRAINER Brett Nye's hopes of securing a second group 1 title with Last Hurrah have been dashed with the Hume Cup hero scratched from Saturday night's Rookie Rebel at The Meadows.

"It's heartbreaking but there was really no choice to make … he's just not right," Nye said.

"I trialled him at The Meadows last Thursday and he came out of it with some bruising to a back muscle. I've given it a few days but he's just not himself.

"I wanted to give the connections of the reserve the best possible chance to prepare for Saturday night so he's out. The ups and downs of racing."

Last Hurrah's place in box one for the Group 1 Rookie Rebel (600m) will be taken by Cawborne Footrot providing there's no further scratchings.

From box one Last Hurrah was considered one of the major chances for the $75,000-to-the-winner middle distance feature given his imposing record at the track and distance.

Last November, the prolific winning chaser stormed to victory in the Hume Cup at The Meadows, handing Nye group 1 glory just 12 months into his training career.

"It was almost a guarantee that he'd come up with the red when he wasn't right," Nye said.

"The dog has put me on the map and been so good to me I'd never take any risks with him.

"In fact I'm sitting here with him now having a cold beer."