A sparkling work-out by Rebel Dane at Warwick Farm on Tuesday has reinforced trainer Gary Portelli’s confidence heading into the Randwick Guineas.
The colt made the leap into elite company in the Group Two Hobartville Stakes when he ran Pierro to a short head and the winner’s absence from the Guineas is another plus for Rebel Dane.
Rebel Dane has been the subject of offers from Asia but Portelli hopes a Group One win will keep him in Australia although the owners have the final call.
“At the moment the owners are enjoying his racing,” Portelli said.
“They have had a lot of horses over the years and he is by far the best.
“I think he’s the type of horse who could still be racing as a five-year-old so I hope he stays here.”
Saturday’s Group One Guineas (1600m) is being held this year at Warwick Farm, Rebel Dane’s home track, another advantage.
“If he is going to win a Group One, then this is the one,” Portelli said.
“And if Pierro is the benchmark then he is pretty close.
“He worked this morning over 1000 metres on the course proper with All The Talk. There wasn’t much between them but they weren’t there to race each other.
“They both worked well and came home the last 400 (metres) in 23-1/2 seconds.”
Golden Slipper aspirant All The Talk runs in Saturday’s Skyline Stakes in an attempt to cement a place in the $3.5 million showpiece.
Rebel Dane continues to surprise Portelli who cites his versatility as his major attribute.
“I’ve never had a horse who can do what he can do,” he said.
“The best horses I’ve had have been one-dimensional. I won an Oaks with Rena’s Lady who was a leader and she ran them off their feet.
“Gold Trail was also a leader and he won a Group One.
“But this fellow has a few strings to his bow. He can race up front, he can come from behind and after the Hobartville we know he can handle a wet track.
“Being at Warwick Farm is also a help. The horses are trained here and they know where the winning post is and that’s what they aim at.”
