March 2015

There is not as much prestige and a considerable difference in stakes than the obvious alternative.

But for Sydney sprinter Rebel Dane and his trainer Gary Portelli, winning the William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley promises to be just as significant as a victory in the TJ Smith Stakes.

Looking to Rebel Dane’s future beyond the racetrack, Portelli and the horse’s syndicate of owners have chosen the lesser of two Group One sprint races run eight days apart in setting the entire for a first-up Melbourne win.

Rebel Dane is also already a Group One winner but another success at racing’s elite level would add value to his career as a commercial sire.

“We are probably a better chance of winning a Group One if we go to Moonee Valley rather than go to Randwick and be a ten-to-one shot and run another place in the TJ Smith,” Portelli said.

“The William Reid is a Group One race, he’s a stallion and it’s very important for him if we can get him over the line.”

Rebel Dane earned $450,000 in finishing second to Lankan Rupee in last year’s TJ Smith and he gets $240,000 for a William Reid win.

“It would have been great to race him in both because it’s hard to turn your back on a race worth two and a half million dollars,” Portelli said.

“We ran second in the TJ last year with him but it wasn’t going to be any easier this year. Terravista is going to be there and so is Chautauqua.

“Around the Valley he’s been competitive against Lankan Rupee and Buffering but on the bigger tracks they’ve just had that little bit on us.”

Rebel Dane was among a host of unlucky runners when figuring in a blanket finish behind Lankan Rupee in last year’s Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley and Portelli says his horse is due for a change of fortune at the track.

“He’s had a couple of goes at the Valley and he’s been unlucky so hopefully his turn comes this time,” Portelli said.

“The field is a rung below the TJ Smith but there’s still genuine Group One horses like Angelic Light and Famous Seamus so it’s not going to be a walk in he park for anyone.”
News from Just Horse Racing

In what was a really good sale for Laurel Oak Bloodstock, we were fortunate enough o secure four yearlings, outlined below.

Lot 113: Fastnet Rock x Dance To My Tune colt from the draft of Newgate Farm (as agent for Morning Rise Stud) was purchased from the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale for $140,000.

The colt is the first living foal of the dual Listed-winning, Group One placed Stravinsky mare Dance To My Tune.

Mares by Stravinsky have produced four Group One winners to date, and three are bred on the Danehill-line x Stravinsky cross – Lankan Rupee, Mosheen and Pataques, while the other is the three-time Group One winner Rip Van Winkle.

To view Pedigree, please click here.

Lot 269: Fastnet Rock x Valkyrie Diva filly from the draft of Milburn Creek (as agent for Makybe) was purchased from the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale for $280,000.

Out of the Group 3 winner Valkyrie Diva (Jade Robbery), a half-sister to none other than Makybe Diva, as well as stakes winners Musket and La Amistad, this colt is a three-quarter brother to the Listed winner Wales (Redoute’s Choice).

This pedigree cross of Fastnet Rock x Jade Robbery mare has produced one winner from one runner, the Group 3 Sweet Embrace Stakes winner Jade Marauder.

To view Pedigree, please click here.

Lot 319: Reward For Effort x Lickety Lemon colt from the draft of Chatswood Stud was purchased for $60,000 from the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.

From the second crop of the Group One Blue Diamond winner Reward For Effort, the colt is the second foal out of the Listed winning Lemon Drop Kid mare Lickety Lemon, a half-sister to Street Cry’s Listed winner Cry Of Freedom.

From the family of Group 1 winners Seven Springs, Distant View, Regal State, Pleasantly Perfect and Elusive Kate, mares by Lemon Drop Kid have produced almost 40 stakes performers.

To view Pedigree, please click here.

Lot 697: Star Witness x Long Long Ago colt was purchased for $85,000 from the draft of New Zealand vendor Henley Park (as agent) on the final day of the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.

From the second crop of the dual Group 1 winner Star Witness, this colt is the first foal out of the winning Lonhro mare Long Long Ago, herself a daughter of a sister to Group 1 winners Universal Prince and Universal Queen.

To view Pedigree, please click here .