Another leaders’ bias track at Doomben this Saturday has trainer Gary Portelli worried that it will affect the chances of Rebel Dane in the Group 1 $650,000 James Boag’s Premium Doomben 10,000 (1350m).
Rebel Dane will be looking for non bias track for the Doomben 10,000 at Doomben. Photo by Race Horse Photos Australia.
Portelli knows that his noted back maker will be at a great disadvantage if the Doomben track turns into a front runners paradise again as it was at last weekend’s Doomben Cup meeting.
“That worried me, the fact that it was so ‘leaderish’ last week. I hope it’s not like that again,” Portelli told Racing Network.
“As soon as they got wide that was the end of them.”
Grey filly Arabian Gold was the only winner to come from back in the field when she proved to be a class above the other fillies in the Group 2 $175,000 XXXX Gold The Roses (2000m).
The day started with the Tony Gollan trained Theft and Pinch River from the Robert Heathcote stable leading all of the way to win the first two races on the program.
Tales Of Fashion then sat on the pace before winning the Listed $100,000 Gallopers Sports Club Lancaster Stakes (1200m) and smart filly Srikandi sat behind the leader Lightfeet Lady before exploding away to win the Listed $100,000 Designline Graphics Juanmo Stakes (1200m).
Havana was always in the first three or four before winning the Group 3 $125,000 Ascend Sales Trophies Fred Best Classic (1350m) while Blake Shinn gave Streama the perfect run third on the fence before winning her fourth Group 1 race with a three quarter of a lengths victory in the Group 1 $500,000 Titan Energy Services Doomben Cup (2000m).
And in the last race River Lad wrapped up the day by leading all of the way to win Group 3 $125,000 Darley BRC Sprint (1350m).
But Portelli has no control over the condition of the track or the barrier draw on Wednesday but says that Rebel Dane is in perfect conditions for Saturday.
“He’s perfect, done all his work and we’re just keeping him ticking over now,” Portelli said.
“All we want now is a decent barrier and with that he’ll be very, very competitive on Saturday.”
Portelli will only give Rebel Dane two starts in Brisbane with the Group 1 $1.36m AAMI Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 7 his only other Winter Carnival assignment.
“He’ll run on Saturday, then have his last run in the Stradbroke before going for a break,” Portelli said.
Rebel Dane at $3.80 holds a slight edge over Buffering at $4 in the market order for the Doomben 10,000 with Ladbrokes.com.au.
BTC Cup runner up Spirit Of Boom is also well in contention at $5 while Knoydart is marked at $9 and BTC Cup winner Famous Seamus is a $10 chance.
