Boss noted that while the Rosehill track was still rain affected, Rebel Dane still trialled well ahead of Saturday week’s TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick.

Rebel Dane was deep throughout as he closed to within a head of Zaratone at the end of the 900 metres.

“The ground was pretty soft, pretty ordinary ground to trial on unfortunately, which is not his go as he’s not really a soft track horse, but it was a good trial,” Boss said.

“I was really happy with him, he looks great and pulled up really well. All good signs.”

Boss said he would ride Rebel Dane, which hasn’t started since finishing seventh behind Buffering in the Group 1 VRC Sprint Classic, at Warwick Farm next Tuesday, but he believes trainer Gary Portelli has him exactly where he wants him.

He said Rebel Dane, winner of the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield last September, is not the sort of horse that needs to be hammered to get fit.

“He’s a genuine horse, a proper sprinter. He’s a better horse than he was last spring, the only real time he failed was when he went down the straight.

“He was terrible down the straight, he had no idea. The rest of his prep was great.”

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