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Rebel ‘Locked And Loaded’ For First-Up Missile

Rebel Dane is fighting fit ahead of his early season campaign with trainer Gary Portelli’s main worry the presence of Capitalist in the Missile Stakes.

Trainer Gary Portelli has Rebel Dane ready to go to the races but admits his early season targets will not be easy.

New jockey Tommy Berry gave Rebel Dane a work-out between races at Rosehill on Saturday to get him ready for his first-up assignment in the Missile Stakes. Saturday’s group 2 sprint will also feature the return of Golden Slipper winner Capitalist and it doesn’t get any easier after that.

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Rebel Dane getting up on the outside to defeat Ball Of Muscle in the Group 2 The Shorts when first-up in September.

“He takes on Capitalist in his first start and then gets to take on Winx in the Warwick Stakes,” Portelli said. “There really aren’t any other races for him early in the season, so that’s the way it is.

“He takes on Capitalist in his first start and then gets to take on Winx in the Warwick Stakes,” Portelli said. “There really aren’t any other races for him early in the season, so that’s the way it is.

“He’s at 505 kilos which is the heaviest I’ve ever had him at the start of a preparation and is in great physical condition. I don’t think he could be any better.”

Rebel Dane covered the last 600m of Saturday’s 1000m gallop in a slick 33.07 seconds.

The winner of the 2013 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, Rebel Dane is likely to go to Melbourne again this spring, with the Winterbottom Stakes in Perth also an option.

The entire has won almost $1.7 million highlighted by the Group 1 race since the Rupert Clarke.

News from Portelli Racing website

Prizemoney Increases For Highway Races

Racing NSW has today announced that prizemoney for the highly successful Highway races will be increased by 50% to $60,000 per race from $40,000.

The increased prizemoney for Highway races will commence on Saturday, 6 August 2016. The prizemoney increase maintains the position of Highway races for country participants in line with recently commenced increases in prizemoney for Country TAB racing.

“The Highway races have performed strongly since they commenced in October last year and warrant this further investment. The Highway races will now deliver $2.5 million in prizemoney annually,” said Racing NSW Chief Executive, Mr Peter V’landys AM.

rsz_oct_15_flash_in_the_darkThe Highway races have gathered strong support over a short period drawing together progressive country gallopers on a weekly basis.

Delivering tremendously interesting and competitive racing, the Highway races provide a much-deserved opportunity for country trainers to showcase their skills and develop their profile at the key race meeting of the week in NSW.

“The most satisfying element of the Highway races to me is seeing the thrill and excitement among owners that have runners in these races,” Mr V’landys added.

“The frequency and positioning of Highway races gives punters a feel for these horses and their form.

“I’m also delighted that in the past month, three Highway race winners have progressed to win Saturday benchmark races. This must give country trainers a shot of confidence that they can be competitive in races when they come to Sydney,” Mr V’landys concluded.

News from Racing NSW

Berry back for Rebel Dane Missile run

Tommy Berry will ride Rebel Dane when he resumes in the Missile Stakes on Saturday week and trainer Gary Portelli is pleased the leading jockey was aboard in a barrier trial on Monday.

Rebel Dane finished third in the trial behind Vashka and Majaska at Warwick Farm, settling off the pace and seeming to take a while to hit full speed in the concluding stages.

“It was good that Tommy has had the experience on the horse because he has lost a bit of that zip and acceleration he had when he was younger,” Portelli said.

“He is taking longer to unwind, taking a bit more riding to get to his top so I think it will be beneficial that Tommy rode him in the trial so he knows what he is dealing with on race day.”

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Rebel Dane finished fourth last start in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes behind English, Black Heart Bart and Kermadec.

Portelli is keen to give Rebel Dane a gallop between races at Rosehill on Saturday, a formula he used before winning The Shorts first-up at last spring.

“Physically he is looking stronger than ever, I’ve never been happier with him,” Portelli said.

“We gave him a longer break out of the autumn last year and didn’t resume until the middle of September.

“This time around I wanted to get him in early and have him up firing before some of the big guns get back.

“After the Missile Stakes he will go to the Warwick Stakes and then we will assess the situation and look at our options from there.

“The Manikato is a race that he has performed well at in the past and it is something I’d like to take on again if we get to Melbourne.”

New from Brent Zerafa, Racing.com

Another top class effort by All My Loving

Not having had a run for five weeks, gallant five-year-old mare All My Loving produced another very good effort to finish third on Tuesday at Gosford, further contributing further funds to the Breast Cancer Foundation.

With 10 per cent of her earnings going to the Breast Cancer Foundation, the Gary Portelli-trained All My Loving (Not A Single Doubt) jumped from the outside barrier in the Spar Express Benchmark 63 Handicap over 2100m at Gosford.

All My Loving glitterPulled back by jockey Grant Buckley to settle in second last position, Statue Of Liberty gelding Slade Amigos had the lead narrowly from Anthony Cumming’s Maven Wiz in second.

A mid-race move saw Wedding Kiss to come from third last to race around the field to sit outside the leader, the pace appeared to quicken as All My Loving found herself in second last position, many lengths from the leader.

At the 800m mark, the runs started to come and Maven Wiz came off the back of Wedding Kiss to commence his run, as did Rightoncue and Baroque Girl, while Buckley and All My Loving didn’t have a lot of options just yet but to follows these runners forward.

Tye Angland urged Maven Wiz to the lead just before the turn after fighting off Slade Amigos to his inside, while Baroque Girl and All My Loving were starting to make ground.

The widest into the final turn, All My Loving looked to slightly struggle but just needed time to balance up once into the straight and once she did, worked home very well to finish in third, just under three lengths from the winner.

With 27 top five placed performances from her 35 starts, the Laurel Oak Rose (Mgr: L J Mihalyka), Jalana (Mgr: D Gremmo), A N Fitzgerald, L J Carpenter, Mrs K A Carpenter, Ms K L Benson, Mrs S L Grant, S James, S E Johnston, Mrs P Hunter-Knight, Mrs J C McAuliffe, Mrs V Racovalis, Ms A Kung, Mrs C A Mathieson, Mrs R C Fitzgerald, G M Fitzgerald and L A Brennan-owned mare has been a favourite of the team, not only for her honesty and consistency, but for the funds she has been able to contribute to such a worthy cause.

Great sectionals for Wide Acclaim on return

Ending his previous campaign with a third behind Southern Legend at Rosehill, with that winner going on to claim a stakes race during The Championships, the Gary Portelli-trained Wide Acclaim resumed on Saturday at Rosehill.

Settling last after being slightly slowly away from the outside barrier, For Me Dad went to the early lead and ensured some good speed upfront, with the leading filly chasing four consecutive wins.

Running in second was the talented Matt Dale-trained Bitburg, while race favourite Speith was traveling in third last position on the rail.

Charging into the final bend, Wide Acclaim was still towards the tail of the field but jockey Samantha Clenton was urging the son of Congrats to the outside to make up some ground.

WIDE ACCLAIM_LEX5175With the Arrowfield silks aboard King’s Troop getting up along the rail, favourite Spieth was still searching for some room, but when it presented itself, the talented son of Thorn Park charged to the line to record a very nice win.

While yet to record black type, the connections of Spieth obviously feel the colt has plenty of potential as evident by his start in the Group 2 Arrowfield 3yo Sprint during The Championships, where he finished down the track behind Group 1 performers Japonisme and Counterattack.

Although beaten into fourth position, the run of “Harry” was very good and what further highlights this is that only two horses on the day where able to break 36 secs for their final 400m sectional – those two being the winner Spieth and Wide Acclaim, with our boy recording 32.9. – click here to veie race.

We are really looking forward to Wide Acclaim stepping out next start and with plenty of BOBS prizemoney opportunities over the coming months, fingers crossed we can play a part in that also!

Third victory for Better Land

Having his third start for new trainer Darren Weir, four-year-old Shamardal entire Better Land produced the goods in the final race of the day at Sportsbet Ballarat on Wednesday, taking the prize in the Hygain Benchmark 70 Handicap (1400m).

A length and a half third at his most recent run behind Edgewood and Decoupez on a Heavy 10 surface over the 1400m at Warrnambool, jockey Brad Rawiller eased Better Land from an outside gate, settling with only one behind him.

Racing slightly ungenerously in parts, Rawiller let Better Land slide forward a while before home turn, but still had many lengths to make up.

As Elite Tiger and Corporate Takeover cornered into the home straight in front, Better Land was the widest runner of the field, but was starting to make up ground.

Starting the short-priced favourite in the 10 horse field, Better Land knuckled down to chase Elite Tiger who had now skipped a few lengths clear.

Charging really strongly to the leader, Better Land took the win by a nose, and although narrowly, it was great to see another win on the board for fellow owners; R A Pegum, Laurel Oak Shamrock (Mgr: L J Mihalyka), Ramsey Pastoral Company Pty Ltd (Mgr: S B Ramsey), D J Tamblyn, R S Willis, Mrs J M Tamblyn, D J Tamblyn, R V 8 (Mgr: R V Dulhunty), M R Tudehope, B N E Hastie, M J Forsdick, A N Fitzgerald, Rdfit Pty Ltd (Mgr: S C Cook) and A W Reichard.

Better Land Capture

Click above image to view Better Land’s victory

Having showed immense talent early on as evident by his three length debut win and his stakes performance behind Scissor Kick in the Listed The Rosebud and the Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes, Better Land has been somewhat of an enigma, but now that he has broken through for another win, fingers crossed that he continues on with it.

Rip Van Winkle filly produces impressive winning Silhouette

While many owners would be frustrated that it took until the seventh start for their runner to break their maiden, but all was pushed aside on Sunday when Red Silhouette recorded an impressive three length victory at Racing.com Park in the R & C Asphalt Paving Maiden Plate.

Ridden by Michael Dee, the three-year-old filly jumped away cleanly from the middle of the line where she traveled forward to settle in fourth on the outside of the slightly erratic Vanilla Ice Cream.

Outsider Forrest Boy took up the leading position with short price favourite St Rumon on his outside appearing to get the run of the race.

Dropping back a little, Dash For Dee and Violet Fluture went around Red Silhouette but Dee didn’t appear to panic, although needing a gap was going to be his main priority.

As the leader started to weaken and St Rumon was urged to the lead, Dash For Dee started to make a challenge, but it was evident that Red Silhouette was going to play a part in the finish as the filly started to make up ground down the outside to look a leading chance.

Sprinting to the lead, the Tony Noonan-trained filly cleared out to record an impressive three length victory over Distant Sky, with a further half-length back to Dash For Dee. Click the below image to view the win.

Red Silhoutte image

Purchased from the draft of Curraghmore Stud at the 2014 New Zealand Premier Yearling Sale, Red Silhouette is the first out of the Listed winning More Than Ready mare Floramour, herself a winner of five.

Interestingly, trainer Tony Noonan secured the second foal from the mare a year later, a colt by Jimmy Choux who was left in New Zealand to do his early racing, where the colt was named Manolo Blahniq and went on to record success in the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes earlier this year.

Special congratulations to the winning connections of Red Silhouette – Laurel Oak Bloodstock P/L (Mgr: L J Mihalyka), Grant Bloodstock P/L (Mgr: S P Grant), A N Fitzgerald, Boeara Holdings (Mgr: Mrs D A Dunphy), Rdfit P/L (Mgr: S C Cook), P L Nottage, M K J Strassmeir, Mrs L J Strassmeir, Dr T P Clarke, Mrs C A McHugh, P J Peters, Laurel Oak Club Number Two and A Kustron.

Horse of the Week: Sir Bacchus

Those that study sectional times will have noticed a few impressive performances on the weekend, but none more so than Waller’s grey swooper. The son of Sebring was stuck in traffic near the back one second and screaming home for a dominant win the next.

His relentless surge to the line gets him the prize of Horse of the Week.

Breeding: Sired by Sebring, from Bacchanal Woman (Sire of Dam, Encosta De Lago)

Type: Three year old grey/chestnut Gelding born 21/09/2012

Features: Sprint & Finishing Surge

Weaknesses: Prefers Galloping Room

Record: 4 wins, 1 second from 7 starts. Total Prize-money of $257,725

Career Wins
•07/5/16 – McGrath Estate Agents at Rosehill over 1200m – Jockey R Hutchings
•23/4/16 – Hyland Race Colours at Rosehill over 1200m – Jockey J R Collett
•26/12/15 – McGrath Estate Agents at Randwick over 1200m – Jockey R Hutchings
•11/12/15 – Tab More Than Just Winning Mdn at Canterbury over 1100m – Jockey R Hutchings

Quick Facts
•Purchased at the 2014 MM National Yearling Sale Select Session for $130,000
•His dam Bacchanal Woman was a Listed level winner at Canberra
•He’s off to the Fred Best Classic at Doomben to try and qualify for the AAMI Stradbroke Handicap
•Not a horse that enjoys tight spots, it will be interesting to see how he handles the big handicaps up north

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Story: The Race Guide

Bacchus Simply Sensational At Rosehill

Waller and Hutchings then combined in the following race, the McGrath Estate Agents Bm77 Handicap (1200m), with Sir Bacchus. The Sebring three-year-old gelding stormed down the outside with 59kg to win his second race in succession.

Sir Bacchus will make presence felt in Queensland winter. Picture Simon BullardThe win looked unlikely at the 300m with Lucky Fish (carried 52.5kg) and apprentice James Innes out to a good lead and Sir Bacchus not making ground. However Hutchings quickly reversed that impression and the grey charged at the leader and swept past for a 1 1/2L winning margin and a new class record time of 1.09.67.

Lucky Fish (Exceed And Excel) was second with a further 1 1/2L to Sampeah (Exceed Ad Excel) (59kg) and Mitchell Bell in third.

“He needed to be a good horse to win from where he was,” said Waller. “He is an immature horse who is still learning his trade.”

The next step in that learning curve will be, like his stablemate Encosta Line, a trip to Brisbane and in his case for the Group 3 Fred best Classic (1350m) at Doomben on May 21st. The winner of that race gains a start in the $1.5m, Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) with Waller commenting that the stable and connections can ‘dream’.

Sir Bacchus, out of the Encosta de Lago mare Bacchanal Woman, is owned by a large group including Laurel Oak Bacchus, Boeara Holdings, Mr F W Cook, Grant Bloodstock Pty Ltd, Dirty Grey, Mr K R Lowe, Mrs M P Lowe, Mr A W Reichard, Mr J T O’Brien, Club Bacchus, Mr M W Powell, Mr N Macdonald, Mrs R H Richards, Mrs C M Cook and Mrs E K Grant and they celebrated accordingly after their win. Their runner has earned them stakes of $237,725 plus a $20,000 BOBS bonus.

News from Thoroughbred News

Images: Simon Bullard, Daily Telegraph

All guns blazing at Texas Rebel fires winning shot at Randwick

He’s the younger brother of a Group 1 winner who speaks the same language, albeit with a southern accent.

Texas Rebel, a half-brother to Rebel Dane, broke through for his first career win with victory in race three (1400m) at Randwick on Anzac day.

“He’s always shown he’s going to get there eventually,” trainer Gary Portelli told G1X.com.au.

“He’s a big, lean horse and he’s just starting to fill up his frame.”

Texas Rebel April 25 win

With the same trainer, the same looks and wearing the same silks as Rebel Dane, the three-year-old son of Texarcana scooted up the rail to just hold off Go Benny ($6.10), with the Gai Waterhouse-trained Red Knot ($2.30 favourite) in third.

“He obviously doesn’t have the turn of foot of his brother but he’s only won by a head today and hopefully he keeps the trend up,” Portelli said.

“He actually came in last time and I wasn’t happy with him so I tipped him out again. He came in for this preparation and he’s stronger, but he’s still not there yet. He’s a long way from being where I think he’s going to be in six months, 12 months time.

“He’s a big jumping type, he’s got a fantastic attitude and he’s a lovely horse to train, and great to see the colours back up and winning again.”

Having jumped from gate four, the colt was given a smart ride from Travis Wolfgram, who took advantage of the rail being out 12 metres.

“His last few starts he’s drawn bad and we’ve gone back on him,” Wolfgram said.

“Everyone’s been scouting a bit wider so the inside was a bit untouched and being the first go at the 1400m, I needed to cover him the best I could.”

News from G1X Racing