The unexposed gelding, True Rebel, has secured his place in the upcoming Victoria Derby after a hard-fought victory in a crucial lead-up race at Flemington on Saturday. While his jockey harbours some doubts about his stamina for the Derby distance, the three-year-old colt demonstrated enough to earn a shot at the Classic.
Trained by Danny O’Brien, the galloper showed a strong finish to clinch a narrow yet impressive win in the $400,000 Group 2 Drummond Golf Vase over 2040 metres.
True Rebel managed to wear down the determined leader Skua by a half-length. Following the race, jockey Blake Shinn expressed that he wasn’t entirely convinced True Rebel would handle the extra 460 metres of the Derby, but acknowledged the horse possesses qualities that might see him through.
“His attitude has carried him to 2000 – he may be better at a mile or 1800 – but class got him through today,” Shinn stated. “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 in the Vase, True Rebel overtook Skua ($21), who was once considered a leading Derby contender and showed a courageous run to get his Derby aspirations back on track. The filly Salann ($7) finished a further 1-3/4 lengths behind in third place.
True Rebel’s pedigree is from dual Group 1-winning sprinter Rebel Dane, out of a Helmet mare from a Darley lineage rich in Black Type but primarily known for sprinters. O’Brien was aware of this when he purchased him for $80,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale last year. However, he believed the horse had the build of a stayer and would be given a chance in the Derby if he came out of the Vase without issue.
“Physically he looks like a stayer, but on pedigree he doesn’t,” O’Brien commented on True Rebel, who achieved his second victory 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.”
Having been the $4 favourite for the Derby prior to the Vase, True Rebel shortened dramatically to $3.20 immediately after the race. Geelong Classic winner Murshidi ($7) now shares the second line of betting.
For those interested in the Victoria Derby, the racing odds are sure to tighten significantly, check out Australian betting sites for the latest markets.
