3 minute read
Rebel Factor emerged as a potential Group winner following an impressive win in the weight-for-age Ladbrokes Stakes over 1200m in Launceston on Friday night.
The Team Wells-trained gelding was having just his second try at weight-for-age conditions but he handled it like a seasoned professional.
With Brendon McCoull aboard, the five-year-old made light work of the outside barrier (12) when his rider sent him forward to settle third and three-wide without cover, while Liffeybeau led, and the Barry Campbell-trained Julius raced one-off in second spot to the home turn.
When Julius made his move, McCoull let his charge loose and he quickly rounded up the leaders and went on to score by a length from outsider Laylow Pluck ($21) that made a sustained run from the 600m mark to edge out Turk Warrior ($6.50) for the minor placings.
Rebel Factor ($3.10) was to have tackled the weight-for-age Tasmanian Stakes in Hobart two weeks ago, but a foot abscess denied him the chance to tackle the Listed event.
"Missing the Tasmanian Stakes might have been a blessing in disguise because we were able to freshen him up for the 1200-metre assignment and now we can progress to the Thomas Lyons over 1400m on Hobart Cup Day and then to the Hellova Street over 1600m on Launceston Cup Day," said co-trainer Dean Wells.
"He's got so much untapped ability and I don't think we'll get to the bottom of him for another 12 months.
"There might even be a little Group 1 we can look at for him in Melbourne in a year from now.
"He treated this field with contempt and they are the best sprinters we have on offer with the exception of The Inevitable that wasn't in this race.
"He is still learning what it's all about because he was going to win by four lengths at the 200m, but he was looking about over the last 150m.
"He is just out there having a ball and we all are excited about what he might achieve going forward."
Outside of the winner the effort of outsider Laylow Pluck was worth a special mention because he was cluttered up amongst a clump of horses worse than midfield when rider David Pires was searching to improve their position.
When he did finally get clear racing room the Pluck gelding ran on gamely to suggest he is worthy of progressing to the Thomas Lyons.
Turk Warrior was game in defeat while the favourite, three-year-old Bello Beau ($2.30), was never in the hunt when he missed the start from a wide gate (11) and was caught in no-man's land to the home turn.
Bello Beau finished sixth, beaten 3.3 lengths, but was still making up ground over the concluding stages so he may have struggled with dropping back from 1600m in the Tasmanian Guineas to the 1200m with such a hot speed set.
Music Addition ran on fairly after trailing the leader and only left the rail at the 250m peg to challenge the leader, while race leader Liffeybeau was only found wanting over the final 100 metres to finish fifth and beaten only 2.3 lengths.
