Swim star Rebel Rover fails to make a splash on return to the track at Doomben

SUPER swimmer Rebel Rover couldn’t convert his recent Moreton Bay heroics into a return victory at Doomben on Wednesday, winding up fourth behind Moss Harry.

SUPER swimmer Rebel Rover couldn’t convert his recent Moreton Bay heroics into a return victory at Doomben on Wednesday, winding up fourth behind Moss Harry.

Rebel Rover made international news in February after he dumped jockey Jackson Morris during a routine wade in the shallow waters of Moreton Bay and then proceeded to swim several kilometres out to sea.

He was alone for two hours before a rescue boat came to his aid, with Morris jumping in the water to bring him closer to the boat.

Rebel Rover concluded his day of drama by knocking out trainer Brad Smith’s father with a headbutt when he was being loaded onto the float to head home.

On his raceday return on Wednesday, which was his first start in Smith’s name, Rebel Rover settled back in the field for Morris and looked like making a strong surge in the straight, but with the leaders zipping home in a slick 33.98 seconds, his task was an almost impossible one.

“With the rail out 9m and the leaders holding up and sprinting home it was always going to be tough today,” Smith said.

“If we had given him a trial I would say he probably runs third, but we didn’t want to take him to the trials and give him an opportunity to do anything wrong.

“Jackson jumped off and said over 1100-1200m next time he will be winning in his right grade. We were thrilled with the way he went.”

The Moreton Bay incident attracted media interest from all over the country and also made international news, with the BBC reporting on Rebel Rover’s adventures.

Smith said Rebel Rover recovered strongly from the ordeal, back working three days later, with the only remnants of his escape being some understandable muscle soreness.

Rebel Rover goes for a marathon swim in Moreton Bay in February.

Originally published as Swim star Rebel Rover fails to make a splash on return to the track at Doomben