The Young Star is a feature race run as part of the Million Dollar Chase Carnival, one of a number of highlights on the Grand Final night of the world’s richest greyhound event.
The inaugural Young Star Final was taken out in 2018 by Federal Lilly, a bitch who six months later would finish a gallant second in the Ladbrokes Golden Easter Egg Final.
In 2019, Troy Donaldson’s flying Jet Jackson improved his record to 12 wins from 14 starts with a dominant display in winning the $25,000 first prize, defeating Electric Silk and Zipping Truvy.
Trainers Andy and Jodie Lord had a big opinion of the youngster Rapallo, and he lived up to the hype with a dashing win in the 2020 Young Star Final, clocking 30.14s in beating the favourite Chrissie Banner.
In the 2022 edition of the Young Star, some of the most promising greyhounds in work qualified for the final, but it was the sensational Zipping Orlando who, showing amazing track sense, navigated his way through the field to score in 29.65s, the win his 8th from 8 starts.
2022 winner Zipping Orlando with connections
Zipping Orlando won the Young Star just a few months after debuting in the 2022 Zoom Top Maiden series
In 2023, Rocket Riot gave nothing else a chance after flying the lids and running them ragged for Peter Lagogiane.
The time of 29.64 was just a shade outside his heat win of 29.61 and the early pace this bloke possesses will ensure he plays a part in many more big races in the near future.
2023 Young Star placegetters (L-R) Overflow Beau, Rocket Riot and Blue Falcon