The untapped gelding, True Rebel, has earned himself a ticket to the Victoria Derby following a hard-fought victory in a key lead-up race at Flemington on Saturday. Despite jockey Blake Shinn’s reservations about his suitability for the Derby’s full distance, the colt proved his credentials.
Trained by Danny O’Brien, the galloper finished strongly to claim a narrow but impressive win in the $400,000 Group 2 Drummond Golf Vase.
True Rebel wore down the gritty leader Skua to secure a half-length victory over the 2040-metre journey. While he didn’t definitively convince Shinn that he would relish the extra 460 metres of the Derby, the jockey noted the horse possesses qualities that could see him perform.
“His attitude has carried him to 2000 – he may be better at a mile or 1800 – but class got him through today,” Shinn commented. “You’ve got the Derby at the doorstep next week. It is going to be really tempting and Danny is a master at making these right calls. It is going to be an interesting decision for him. It’s a Derby there for anyone’s keeping, it is a wide-open race and the horse is fit and well. If you get a sit-and-sprint type of Derby, it’ll play into his hands, but if you get a staying test I’ve got reservations.”
The $2.60 favourite for the Vase, True Rebel edged out Skua ($21), who was once a leading Derby contender and put his Derby campaign back on track with a courageous effort. The filly Salann ($7) finished another 1-3/4 lengths adrift in third.
True Rebel, a son of dual Group 1-winning sprinter Rebel Dane and out of a Helmet mare from a Black Type-heavy, but sprint-oriented, Darley family, was purchased by O’Brien for $80,000 at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. O’Brien, however, always felt the horse was a stayer and would be afforded a chance in the Derby, provided he suffered no ill effects from the Vase.
“Physically he looks like a stayer, but on pedigree he doesn’t,” O’Brien stated regarding True Rebel, who recorded his second win from four starts in the Vase. “He’s a very relaxed customer and all of his races say he wants further and he got out to the 2000 today and stayed well. It is another step to go further, but all of the horses next Saturday are in the same boat.”
True Rebel, who was the $4 Derby favourite prior to the Vase, firmed into $3.20 immediately after the race. Geelong Classic winner Murshidi ($7) now shares the second position in the betting.
With the Victoria Derby fast approaching, keen punters can explore the racing odds at various bookmakers to find the best value.
