Rebel Dane To Head To Melbourne

Trainer Gary Portelli has confirmed that he is likely to bring Rebel Dane to Melbourne for the remainder of his 2013 Spring Racing Carnival campaign.

Rebel Dane

Rebel Dane is expected to head to Melbourne after his first-up victory in the Show County Quality. Photo by: Steve Hart

Rebel Dane maintained his undefeated first-up record with an impressive victory over a strong field in the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) at Warwick Farm on Saturday and indicated that he could be a major player in the Group 1 sprints later in the spring.

The four-year-old has raced exclusively in Sydney during his career but Portelli is set to give the son of California Dane his first chance in Melbourne in the Group 3 Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) at Flemington on September 7.

“Yesterday was a good race for him to prove what he can do and he did a great job so hopefully he can keep improving,” Portelli said to TVN.

“We’ll see how he does over the next few days because I want to see him bounce back to the weight he was before he won on Saturday but at this stage there are better races in Melbourne for him.

“In two weeks’ time the Bobbie Lewis is on down the straight and that looks a perfect race for him after watching him yesterday.”

Portelli indicated on Radio Sports National this morning that Rebel Dane is at his best over 1400 metres, making the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on September 29 an ideal target, but the Sydney-based trainer said he is excited to give the classy entire a chance down the famous Flemington straight.

“His best runs have probably been at Rosehill where he’s got that longer straight to balance up and unleash on so I’m looking forward to seeing him down the straight,” Portelli said.

“If he’s got plenty of time to balance up he might really open up so I’m looking forward to that.

“He showed on the weekend that he’s on his way, I don’t think he showed he’s there yet but we’ll see what happens over the next few weeks.”

The Show County Quality could be a key form race for the 2013 Spring Racing Carnival with Title, Norzita, Malavio and Sizzling all producing eye-catching runs.

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Thomas Hackett

Thomas is a passionate and opinionated racing journalist and punter who has been obsessed with horse racing since he backed Saintly to win the 1996 Melbourne Cup. An international racing enthusiast, he has his finger on the pulse of racing news not just from Australia but all around the world.