Following a sixteen-week break, the 3yo Rebel Dane gelding Rebel Shadow came from last on the turn to blow away six opponents in a benchmark 64 for 3yos over 1100m at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Like Rebel Dane’s champion 2yo elect, Fireburn, Rebel Shadow is trained by Gary Portelli and sports the silks of Laurel Oak Bloodstock.
With apprentice Tyler Schiller in the saddle, Rebel Shadow cut the corner before Schiller eased out to the centre of the track.
Revelling in the heavy conditions, Rebel Shadow defeated the Counterattack gelding Hold On Honey by three lenghs with the Per Incanto gelding as You Were a further length and a quarter back in third.
The winner of a Canterbury maiden last November, Rebel Shadow advances his record to two wins, two seconds, and a third from seven starts with earnings of $74,075.
“Gary has always been a big fan of the horse,” stable representative James Fathers said.
“Not many horses have made up that amount of ground today, and he did it effortlessly. It was an impressive win.
“We know how hard it is to win in town, and it has been a great couple of months for the stable and for Louie (Mihalyka).
“He looked sharp today, but he will be ready for 1200m or 1300m next start.”
Rebel Shadow is the first foal of the Rip Van Winkle (IRE) mare Red Silhouette, which carried the Laurel Oak Bloodstock colours to victories at Pakenham when trained by Tony Noonan and the Sunshine Coast for Liam Birchley.
Red Silhouette is a half-sister to Manolo Blahniq (Jimmy Choux), whose four wins included the Group III ARC Eclipse Stakes and Listed VRC Chester Manifold Stakes.
Red Silhouette has an unraced brother to Rebel Shadow named Shadow Dane, also in training with Gary Portelli.
After missing in 2019 and 2020, Red Silhouette was covered by Rebel Dane last spring.
Basking in the glory of Golden Slipper and ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Fireburn, Rebel Dane has made the trip to historic Widden Stud in 2022 with his fee set at $27,500 inc GST.
