Rebel Raider’s Oaks Filly a Crowd Favourite

Wyndholm Park's Rebel Raider has already proven that he is more than capable of getting top quality gallopers and on Oaks Day his daughter, Miner's Miss almost stole the show.

When trainer Paddy Senior joined forces with his jockey-daughter Michelle, he almost pulled off a dream result as Miner's Miss, placed a brilliant third in the $1 million Group 1 VRC Oaks.

Being the crowd favourite, most of Flemington were cheering them home as the underdog, and one of the loudest voices was Wyndholm Park's principal Kim McKellar.

"Miner's Miss certainly did Rebel Raider proud and she is another great advertisement of the quality he can produce as a sire."

"Michelle was the perfect jockey to have on board a filly like that. She is an absolute whiz as she stays calm and just keeps them going. That why she won the Melbourne Cup and why she very nearly got there in the Oaks," McKellar said.

"I had given up 300 metres out, and then she was able to come again which made things very interesting. I remember when Rebel Raider won the Derby at 100-1 and this filly stepped out the gate at 100-1 too – they shouldn't be underestimated and Rebel Raider is the most underestimated sire in Victoria."

Miner's Miss has grown into a top-class filly representing her Victorian breeding and with a super attitude and great motor, it's exciting where she will go next. Being strong on the line, she showed that she was more than capable over the distance.

"One thing to note about Rebel Raiders is that they can run from 1000 metres to 2500 metres – showing their exceptional versatility. As a stallion he does have speed, he can run brilliant sectional times. Rebel Raider himself won a Group 3 over 1200 metres and then he went on to win two Derby's. Before he injured himself, he was even coming back for a Melbourne Cup campaign," McKellar said.

"He can do both sides and his progeny can do both sides too – speed and stay. If you put a fast mare to him, they will be quick and can get to a mile, whereas if you put a staying mare to him, they will grind it out all day – it's a rare quality. You do need to be patient and look at his three and four-year-old form, but if you are, you will definitely reap the rewards."

Michelle was also just as jubilant about the result, tweeting – "Kennedy Oaks 2018 – a day to remember. Riding a horse for my Dad he owns and trains and backed at 100-1 to run 3rd was one of the best days of my riding career. With all his kids there to watch and support him. So good. Dream big. You never know."

Bred by Balcrest Stud in South Australia, famous for Haigh's Chocolate, Miner's Miss went through the sale as a weanling and was purchased for only $10,500 by Paddy Payne senior, the 82-year-old patriarch of one of racing's most recognisable broods to be trained at his Miners Rest property, near the Ballarat racecourse.

"I think she had only just crossed the line when the mare's full sister, Pipkin (Gallo Di Ferro (USA) was sent was on her way to visit Rebel Raider, with the dam of Miner's Miss, Posnet, now retired from breeding," McKellar said.

"He certainly attracts mares from all over the country, with a loyal supporter base in South Australia making up about 30% of his books, and another 10% from New South Wales. They appreciate what great value he is, and that he gets the winners on the board. By visiting a Victorian stallion, it allows them to take full advantage of the lucrative VOBIS scheme."

"Rebel Raider upgrades his mares beautifully and produces the athletic type that the buyers want. They are never gross or heavy. He throws his strong sprinters backend, and he has the elegant stayer front."

With all the expert reproductive veterinary work managed in-house, Rebel Raider can proudly boast outstanding fertility in the covering barn.

"He is highly potent, so we get a lot of mares that come though on their last chance and he just nails them. Being such an athletic animal, with great fitness, he's capable of handling the large numbers."