Glen Boss is poised to win his first Melbourne jockey premiership but found time to test out some potential Spring Carnival rides at the Warwick Farm trials today.
Rebel Dane came from last to win the Royal Sovereign Stakes at Rosehill. Photo by Steve Hart.
Boss flew to Sydney to partner the Gary Portelli pair Rebel Dane and I’m All The Talk with both winning their respective trials.
Rising four year old Rebel Dane beat a smart field of gallopers while I’m All The Talk was too strong in his juvenile heat.
“They both trialled really well and I’m pleased with both of them,” Boss said.
Portelli is planning to kick off Rebel Dane’s Spring campaign in the Group 3 $125,000 Show County Quality (1200m) at Warwick Farm on August 24 before heading to Melbourne.
While I’m All The Talk looks like stepping out in the Group 3 $135,000 Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 17.
“Glen came up mainly to ride I’m All The Talk with a view to riding him in the Vain Stakes at Caulfield next month and I also asked him to ride Rebel Dane,” Portelli said.
“I told him we weren’t going to lock in a program for Rebel Dane but just take it one race at a time.
“At the moment the race I’m looking to start him off in is the Show County at Warwick Farm depending on what weight he gets.”
Rebel Dane was able to win his 795m trial with Group 1 winners Shoot Out, Royal Descent and Sacred Falls having quiet trials behind him.
Rebel Dane showed his potential in the Autumn with an eye-catching win in the Group 2 $175,000 Royal Sovereign Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on February 16.
The California Dane colt then ran the mighty Pierro to a nose when second in the Group 2 $200,000 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on March 2.
Rebel Dane was then sent out the favourite in the Group 1 $550,000 Hyland Race Colours Royal Randwick Guineas (1600m) at Warwick Farm on March 16 but was unable to match it with It’s A Dundeel, Proisir and Tatra and wound up in fourth spot.
Portelli will talk a much more conservative approach heading into the Spring and believes he took Rebel Dane to the well too many times in the Autumn.
“It’s hard to keep the weight on him and I think we might have overdone it last time,” Portelli said.
“We were locked into a plan but in hindsight his first win where he put in a big run from a long way back and his second when he ran Pierro to a head, may have taken a lot out of him.
“It’s hard to keep the weight on him. He can lighten off very quickly so we need to let him tell us where we are going.”
I’m All The Talk showed that he was ready to carry on from his good Autumn form with a nice trial win over the 795m against the two year olds.
The promising colt earned a start in the Group 1 $3.5m Tooheys New Golden Slipper (1200m) at Rosehill on April 6 after winning the Group 3 $125,000 Hyland Race Colours Skyline Stakes (1200m) at Warwick Farm on March 16.
Even though I’m All The Talk was well beaten when tenth to Overreach in the Golden Slipper, Portelli is confident that he will develop into a handy three year old.
