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Rebel Dane should have the class to strike first up on his home track when contesting the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) at Warwick Farm on Saturday.
Gary Portelli’s stable star resumed off a most encouraging autumn where he measured up well against the likes of Pierro and It’s A Dundeel.
Rebel Dane’s best results came early during that campaign and is expected to fire fresh in Saturday’s Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m).
Photo by Racing and Sports
The son of California Dane was readied for this with a Warwick Farm trial late last month which he won.
Rebel Dane was partnered by Glen Boss who has ventured north to take the ride on the lightly-raced type.
He resumes in strong company on Saturday but does appear kindly treated at the weights, just half a kilo over the limit.
The entire has drawn well enough with barrier 7 where Glen Boss does have options.
Rebel Dane during a six start career has shown his tractability having been ridden cold and up near the speed for positive results.
Expect him to hit the ground running when resuming in the Show County Quality (1200m).
Early on the program, Pitcrew will look to maintain his unbeaten record in the Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes (1300m).
The freckle-faced son of Sebring has improved with each run this campaign and was a determined winner last start at this track over 1400m.
Pitcrew has been freshened since and now looks to face his toughest assignment to date on Saturday.
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Regardless, the each way odds about the gelding do appeal.
Pitcrew takes on a number of stakes performed gallopers here but to his advantage, should still have residual race fitness from his latest win seven weeks ago.
Main rivals in this field such as Vilanova, Champollion, Drago and Diamond Oasis aren’t expected to be anywhere near their top which could prove telling over the final stages.
Nash Rawiller will have the gelding prominent early on and should remain there throughout.
Those to have raced so far this campaign rate well below Pitcrew on their latest efforts and while capable of better, do have a lot of ground to make up.
Pitcrew running a bold race for Gai Waterhouse could prove timely with Sweet Kiss perhaps vulnerable in the Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) the race prior.
Royal Descent, Rain Affair and Sweet Idea are the three short priced favourites at Warwick Farm on Saturday with the latter arguably appearing the most vulnerable.
Sweet Idea had a tremendous two-year-old season, not once running a bad race.
The filly won the Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m) before placing in the Golden Slipper (1200m) behind stablemate Overreach.
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On disclosed form, Sweet Idea is clearly the class runner in this field although a couple of factors make the $2.10 currently quoted about her unattractive.
The daughter of Snitzel has trialled twice in readiness for this, the latest an underwhelming seventh at Randwick over 1000m behind older horses.
Waterhouse add blinkers for the first time also which is an interesting move for a filly who raced so well without them during her two-year-old season.
Twilight Royale and Montsegur are both Group-winning fillies who will each be ready to pounce if Sweet Idea is off her game.
Even a maiden down on the limit weight such as Thump could prove the knockout having placed twice at stakes level last season.
Using the wait and see approach for Sweet Idea might be advisable at this point.
SYDNEY SPECIALS:
Banker: R8 #9 Rebel Dane @ $3.00
Play Of The Day: R5 #5 Pitcrew @ $5.50
Lay Of The Day: R4 #1 Sweet Idea @ $2.10