El Roca 3YO Warming Up for Derby

Media Release - Tuesday January 30

Renegade Rebel will make the second middle distance appearance of his burgeoning career on Wednesday in his final lead-up to the country’s Blue Riband age group staying feature.

The Gr.2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (2000m) at Te Rapa will provide the stage for his dress rehearsal for the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on March 2.

Renegade Rebel will contest the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (2000m) at Te Rapa on Wednesday.   Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

Renegade Rebel has already displayed his depths of stamina with a stylish last-start victory in the Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) off the back of a maiden success at just his third outing.

“He’s flying, but I just think that two and a-half weeks between runs might not suit him that well at Te Rapa but four and a-half weeks leading into the Derby will,” trainer Cody Cole said.

Renegade Rebel’s progress hasn’t surprised his Matamata handler, who also has confidence in his free-going son of El Roca mastering the Classic distance.

“He has continued to step up and keep improving and after the Guineas he won’t run again until the Derby, I think that will be the ideal build-up for a horse like him,” Cole said.

Out of the Duelled mare Regalia, who was successful on five occasions, Renegade Rebel has won his last two races with dominant front-running performances in the hands of Matthew Cameron, who takes the reins again.

“We went into the Salver knowing he would run the trip and he gets to the front and into his own rhythm,” Cole said.

“He does it very easily and covers the ground well. It’s pretty effortless for him and winds up when he needs to, and we know he will keep finding.

Advertisement

“You go into a lot of these three-year-old staying races riding a horse conservatively hoping they run the trip out, but we don’t need to take that approach.

“We know he is best out there doing his own thing and it’s just a matter of whether he can hold the rest of them out.”

Cole was also in the market for a pair of youngsters during the second session of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale at Karaka on Monday, including a daughter of El Roca.

“He is a sire that has been pretty good to me so there’s no point changing, we’ve got a few others with ability,” he said.

Lot 474 offered by Westbury Stud was purchased with Andrew Williams Bloodstock and is out of the unraced Testa Rossa mare Test My Resolve, a half-sister to the South African Group Three winner Roy’s Riviera.

Cole also teamed up with fellow trainer Kurtis Pertab to secure Lot 331 for $110,000 out of Curraghmore’s draft.

“He’s one that we will look to trade, most likely at the Ready to Run Sale,” he said.

The Almanzor colt is a half-brother to the Gr.3 Rotorua Stakes (1400m) winner Tomelilla, who also claimed a brace of Listed events, and to the Gr.3 Waikato Cup (2400m) winner Viktor Vegas with their dam the Dubai Destination mare Purnima. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
G1 3YOs - Where the Real Action Is
2YO racing might garner a lot of attention, but the reality is G1 races run for this age group are shining a light on a comparatively small slice of that foal crop, whereas 3YO racing is where the real action lies as the good horses from the season before have to step up or slide out of contention.
New SW El Roca - Renegade Rebel Wins Listed Gingernuts Salver
Emerging three-year-old Renegade Rebel stepped up from a last-start maiden win and scored a determined front-running victory in Sunday’s Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m) at Ellerslie.
NZ Racing Woman of the Year
Caitlin O’Sullivan Doyle has been immersed in racing from a young age and she was recognised for her individual contribution to the industry at Entain’s Industry Excellence Awards on Sunday.
National Online Breeding Stock Sale Online Now
The National Online Breeding Stock Sale has launched on Gavelhouse Plus with bidding open on the 87 Lots sale which is set to end from 7pm on Wednesday 9th July.
Sires With Winners - Monday June 30
Here is the full list of 20 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Bergerson Honoured at Entain Industry Excellence Awards
Sam Bergerson, New Zealand’s leading trainer, was recognised by his peers when receiving the top gong at the Entain Industry Excellence Awards on Sunday night.
New kids on the block add fresh blood to Vibrant Victorian breeding scene
With 11 new stallions standing in Victoria this coming breeding season, including the winners of three Group 1 races on their ‘home’ soil, the short and long-term future looks increasingly bright for the state’s vibrant industry. 
Alice Jeffries - Rising Star in Breeding Industry
Alice Jeffries didn’t always see a future for herself in the breeding industry, but a very special filly played a key role in getting her to where she is today, working as Cambridge Stud’s Assistant Yearling Manager, and receiving Entain’s Newcomer Excellence Award on Sunday.
G1 Aussie Season – Best of the Best
The $700,000 Group I Tatts Tiara (1400m) at Eagle Farm last Saturday was the last of 76 Australian Group I races run this season that produced 57 individual Group I winners, so let’s take a look at the best of the best.
Tenth 2YO Winner Spirit of Boom
Lindsay Park Racing produced the tenth 2YO winner of the season for Spirit of Boom at Pakenham on Monday when the well backed favourite Idleonby saluted at her second start.