Rebel Dane Is The 2016 Manikato Stakes Winner

October 21, 2016

Rebel Dane Is The 2016 Manikato Stakes Winner

Rebel Dane defied a massive price to record a shock victory in the 2016 Manikato Stakes at Moonee Valley tonight.

Rebel Dane recorded his first Group 1 victory since 2013 in the Manikato Stakes. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

Rebel Dane recorded his first Group 1 victory since 2013 in the Manikato Stakes. Photo by: Ultimate Racing Photos

Rebel Dane was barely mentioned in the lead-up to the Manikato Stakes as the majority of attention was focused on the likes of Chautauqua, English and Buffering, but Rebel Dane took advantage of a clever ride from Ben Melham to score his second victory at Group 1 level.

Melham elected to cut the corner coming into the Moonee Valley straight and it proved to be a winning move, with the California Dane entire the only horse able to make up ground in the final stages of the race.

Trainer Gary Portelli said after the race that he expected Rebel Dane to run well in the Manikato Stakes, but he admitted that a top five finish was all that he wanted for his star galloper, who had not won at Group 1 level since he took out the 2013 edition of the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m).

“There is hope for us all,” Portelli said.

“It has been a great team effort from us all.

“We have been taking him down to the beach, putting him over some hurdles and just trying to break it up.

“I knew that he had it in him – last start at Randwick he ran 32.80 his last 600 and it was the second fastest outside of Astern, so I said we had to have a go at this race.

“Here we are in the winners circle.

“I have to thank the syndicate for leaving him with us and giving us the chance to have another crack at the Manikato.

“We could have pulled up stumps earlier in this campaign, but we have been confident the horse has been right and it is only a matter of getting some luck and he would finish in the top five tonight.”

Melham had never previously ridden Rebel Dane under race conditions, but he was extremely impressed with the turn-of-foot shown by the seven-year-old in the final stages of the Manikato Stakes and was clearly delighted to have claimed a surprise Group 1 victory.

“It was a great win,” Melham said.

“He has deserved to win another Group 1 this horse.

“He has had a few goes at it and ran some third, fourth and fifths and it is good to see him come here and win with a bit of authority.

“He broke pretty well and they were happy to race a fair bit off the fence.

“They travelled to the corner and I gave them a boot up inside them and he really let down with a good bit of dash.”

Chautauqua started the 2016 Manikato Stakes as a clear favourite, but he never looked like a winning chance and co-trainer Wayne Hawkes confirmed that the popular grey would be sent to the spelling paddock.

Racing fields and data are copyright 2011-2021 © Racing Australia Pty Ltd (RA) (and other parties working with it).
Racing materials, including fields, form and results, is subject to copyright which is owned by RA and other parties working with it. Full copyright notice.

Spring Racing

Military Mission Fires in 2023...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field �...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field & Odds Update: Vow And Declare Defends Title

Danny O’Brien’s 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare continues to show a...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbott...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Field & Betting Markets

Bjron Baker’s The Everest performer Overpass is tipped to return to winning...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 R...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 Race Field & Betting

The Chris Waller-trained Pierro four-year-old Osipenko is firm favourite in...

2023 Railway Stakes Field ...

2023 Railway Stakes Field & Betting Update: Tuvalu Narrow Favourite

The Lindsey Smith-trained top-weight Tuvalu is narrow favourite in the latest...

Horse Racing Today

2024 The Galaxy Results: Zapat...

Golden Slipper Results 2024: L...

Golden Slipper Results 2024: Lady Of Camelot Beats Coleman, Storm Boy Third

Co-trainer Gai Waterhouse extended her record to eight victories in the 2024...

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winne...

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winner Veight Beats Older Rivals

Veight joined an elite list of three-year-olds to beat home the older horses...

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results:...

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results: Riff Rocket Flies Home Late Ahead of ATC Derby

Chris Waller’s VRC Derby winner from the spring, Riff Rocket, now has the...

2024 Ranvet Stakes Results: Vi...

2024 Ranvet Stakes Results: Via Sistina Too Good Debuting for Waller

Yu Long Investments lucrative European purchase, the now Chris Waller-trained...

Race Results

2024 The Galaxy Results: Zapateo Upsets Sunshine In Paris

Golden Slipper Results 2024: Lady Of Camelot Beats Coleman, Storm Boy Third

Imperatriz Defends Title in 2024 William Reid Stakes

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winner Veight Beats Older Rivals

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results: Riff Rocket Flies Home Late Ahead of ATC Derby

Race Previews

UK Raider Post Impressionist Heads Tancred Stakes Field & Odds

2024 Australian Cup Field & Betting Update: Pride Of Jenni v Mr Brightside

Golden Slipper 2024 Tips & Betting Update

The Galaxy 2024 Race Field & Odds: Ozzmosis Leads Betting on Slipper Day Sprint

2024 Rosehill Guineas Field & Betting Update: Riff Rocket Set to Take Off

Fields & Form

UK Raider Post Impressionist Heads Tancred Stakes Field & Odds

2024 Australian Cup Field & Betting Update: Pride Of Jenni v Mr Brightside

Golden Slipper 2024 Tips & Betting Update

The Galaxy 2024 Race Field & Odds: Ozzmosis Leads Betting on Slipper Day Sprint

2024 Rosehill Guineas Field & Betting Update: Riff Rocket Set to Take Off