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It is hard to make a case against Rebel Bride taking out this evening's $100,000 Listed Vamos Stakes (1400m) at Launceston.
Photo by Racing and Sports
The Leon Wells-trained mare chases a fourth straight win at Launceston on Wednesday night after an impressive display last start in the Group 3 Bow Mistress Trophy (1200m).
Despite being three wide with no cover for the majority of the event, Rebel Bride still managed to hit the line strongly and defend her Bow Mistress title.
Rebel Bride now takes on six of the same rivals whom she accounted for on that occasion in the Listed Vamos Stakes (1400m).
The five-year-old is clearly the benchmark mare of the event having run Timeform figures between 103 and 105 during her past three outings.
She is presently in career best form and if the daughter of Telesto can hold it for one more run, her nine rivals here will have to lift on what they’ve produced so far this campaign.
Leon Wells’ stable star possesses terrific course credentials and has only finished out of the money once in 20 career starts.
While Rebel Bride hasn’t won over this distance yet, she has placed in both prior attempts over 1400m.
On both occasions they have been in Tasmanian feature events behind the likes of Geegees Blackflash earlier this preparation and also Lady Lynette during last year’s renewal of the Vamos Stakes.
Her Bow Mistress Trophy (1200m) win last start was most impressive where she still managed to run over the top of them despite a tough run in transit.
This evening Rebel Bride has drawn barrier 1 so expect jockey Stephen Maskiell to have her sitting somewhere in the first four one away from the fence.
Maskiell will ensure Rebel Bride doesn’t get caught in a pocket and the Telesto mare should be looming large immediately upon straightening.
From there she should go about overpowering her main danger Tariana.
Tariana was the only mare in the Bow Mistress Trophy last start who threw down the gauntlet to Rebel Bride.
The Mick Price-trained four-year-old crossed over from a wide barrier and attempted to make all before she was swamped late by the popular Tasmanian sprinter.
Tariana has run to a master Timeform figure of 101 during her past two outings and running to somewhere around that mark will see her fight out the finish once again.
A concern surrounding the four-year-old is her record over 1400m.
In three attempts at the trip, Tariana has placed just once during a Caulfield midweeker.
Her ability to run out a strong 1400m has to come under question even just looking at the five-year-olds latest effort in the Bow Mistress Trophy.
The Anabaa mare after taking an uncontested lead was still overpowered late by Rebel Bride who endured a much tougher run in transit.
With Rebel Bride accounting for six of her rivals here last start in the Bow Mistress, Family Crest who brings a new form line into the event is worth considering as a value hope.
The Robbie Griffiths-trained mare recorded a career best win at Moonee Valley last start and ventures south to Tasmania in search for black type.
Family Crest’s latest win yielded a Timeform figure of 89, a figure that is probably some 10 pounds shy of what it will take to win this.
In Family Crest’s favour though, she will sit up near the lead and should make her presence felt in the straight.
Hold Onto Your Hat and Bel Price finished fifth and sixth respectively behind Rebel Bride last start, each beaten around three lengths.
They also have question marks surrounding them regarding the rise to 1400m but still possess place claims.
Third in the 2012 renewal behind the now retired Lady Lynette, Rebel Bride is expected to further confirm her place as Tasmania’s best sprinting mare during this evening’s Listed Vamos Stakes (1400m).
