Rebel Dane is in good form and is as fit as he’s ever been but his trainer admits as the horse gets older, the races get tougher.
Gary Portelli is just hoping his class can get him an overdue win in Saturday’s Group Two Theo Marks Stakes at Rosehill in which the seven-year-old has to give weight to all his rivals.
“He’s a Group One winner in a race with no other Group One winners so he’s got to carry the weight,” Portelli said.
“He has earned it and it is what it is, but it doesn’t make it any easier with the younger horses coming up.
“I just hope the predicted rain doesn’t come and make a lane on the track.”
The initial disappointment of Rebel Dane’s third in the Warwick Stakes behind Winx and Hartnell has dissipated with the runner-up’s devastating win in the Chelmsford Stakes last week.
“I thought he would have run second to Winx but Hartnell has come out and won by many lengths,” he said.
“Rebel Dane is back to 1300 metres which he likes. He has held his weight at 495 kilograms which is 15 kilos over what he usually is at the third run of his campaign.
“He is consistent and usually races against genuine Group One horses but it would be nice to get another win in what will be his last racing season.”
Rebel Dane has won seven races including the 2013 Group One Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and has earned his owners almost $1.8 million.
The lightly raced Les Bridge-trained four-year-old Southern Legend is the $2.60 favourite to win his first Group race at his seventh start.
He will carry 53 kilograms, six kilos less than Rebel Dane who is at $9.50.
