October 2012

Today’s Canterbury meeting saw an impressive victory to Laurel Oak home-bred, and debutant, Rebel Dane. Trained by Gary Portelli, Rebel Dane has always sent out positive vibes, and as such, Gary decided to send the California Dane colt to a strong midweek city maiden at his first start. Ridden by Jason Collett, Rebel Dane was taken back in the field to find cover, and he eventually settled second last, approximately eight lengths off the speed. Rounding the turn, Rebel Dane began to work into the race and on straightening was the widest runner. Once balance up, Rebel Dane unleashed a scintillating turn of foot to reel in the leaders and score a narrow, but comprehensive victory.

Rebel Dane breaks his maiden on debut

The victory vindicated Gary’s decision to start the colt in such a strong race on debut and greater glories are in store for this youngster. Making the victory more special, was the fact that Rebel Dane was bred by a Laurel Oak manged, broodmare syndicate, which, sees Rebel Dane being the fourth generation of a family to be raced by Laurel Oak, since his Great-Great-Grandam, Georgian Gold, was raced successfully back in the early 1980’s. Laurel Oak has always kept a link with the family and we hope that Rebel Dane can continue the tradition. Going by the manner of todays win, it certainly will continue.

PETER MOODY-trained SWIFT SUCCESSION resumed in a hot 3yo field at Sandown. Remarkably, of the ten final acceptors, nine were last-start winners, with the only non-winner having been beaten not far in a Group 3 race at his previous start. After scratchings it meant seven of the eight runners were last-start winners, including our own Swift Succession. Such was his pre-race expectation, though, that he was the rank outsider, and, despite his working well and having had a couple of encouraging trials, Peter thought that he would need the run and would be better-suited over longer. However, after jumping well, jockey Luke Nolen had him perfectly placed one-out and one-back and travelling comfortably in the run, and presented him at the right time in the straight to challenge. It took most of the straight for Swift Succession to reel in the leaders, and once he did get there it looked like Peter’s pre-race prognosis would come to fruition as he started to wobble with about 50m to go and it looked like he might finish a close fourth. However he kept coming, despite running about a bit, and arrived in time for what was a good win. A healthy contingent of Laurel Oak owners attended the day to boost the midweek crowd, and significantly add to the noise level with some enthusiastic barracking down the straight. Commentators thought it may the bookies cheering when, in fact, it was some very happy Laurel Oak owners!

CERTAIN GLORY, finally broke her maiden status at Gundagai, and what a well-deserved victory that was. She was transferred from John O’Shea to Keith Dryden earlier in the year and, after resuming on 1 June, has raced very consistently. In her first seven starts for Keith she ran five placings, so she has kept threatening to win without actually doing so. However, she is proving to be a tough girl as she keeps pulling up well, so we have been able to continue the preparation trying to win a race. After running third on the same Nowra program where Roman Alliance won she was beaten in a very hot maiden field at Goulburn, and, with a couple of options for her two weeks ago, Keith took the one with the best barrier draw, and she dropped back to 1400m at Gundagai. She was very well-ridden by Lauri Wray, who had the mare in the right place at the right time throughout the race and presented her in perfect timing in the straight to challenge. Certain Glory did the rest by going on to score a one-length victory. She has come through the race well again, and her next start will have an important bearing on her longer-term career in seeing how she handles non-maiden company after such a long battle to win her maiden. She has now had thirteen career starts for one win and seven placings, but we are all very thankful that she eventually got to the winning post first.