Winner: Border Rebel (Johannesburg-Frontier)
Race: BRC Dr John Power Handicap LR (1200m)
Sold for: $26,000
Sale: 2007 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale
Vendor: Jonel Park Thoroughbreds (As Agent)
Buyer: Hazelwood Stud
Earnings: $332,450
Owner(s): Mrs VA Scott-Mason
Trainer: Sue Grills (Tamworth)
Border Rebel continued his rise through the grades by leading home a Magic Millions clean sweep in the listed Hinkler Handicap (1200m) at Eagle Farm today.
Racing for the first time since winning at Rosehill in early December, Border Rebel led throughout and treated his rivals with contempt in an arrogant win.
The win was his sixth straight and his tenth overall from just 13 starts. The gelding who’s already earned $332,450, has missed a place just once in his career.
The four-year-old son of Johannesburg is trained at Tamworth by renowned horsewoman Sue Grills and was ridden by her apprentice, boom youngster Timothy Bell.
The win was Bell’s third on the card – and his second at stakes level. Earlier in the afternoon he won a listed event aboard Rare Diamond for Gordon Yorke.
The Group One Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm in June is the main aim this preparation for Border Rebel who looks set to have his next run in a Quality race at Scone on May 14.
Grills said the Group Two QTC Cup at Eagle Farm on June 5 would be the defining race as to whether the Stadbroke, run a week later, would be on the cards.
Border Rebel is yet to race past 1200 metres but Grills doesn’t think that will be a problem.
Despite being eased up near the line Border Rebel ($2.50-$2.80 fav) still held a three and a length margin over Deer Valley ($4.20-$4.40).
Onalar ($51) edged out Spot on Target ($15) for third.
Purchased for just $26,000 from the 2007 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, Border Rebel is raced by former Hazelwood Stud owner Veronica Scott-Mason
Border Rebel is the second feature stakes winner in Australia in a week following the outstanding AJC Oaks win of Once Were Wild.
He is one of two winners, from two runners, for the four time winning Flying Spur mare Frontier.
Frontier, who won up to 1200 metres, is a daughter of the Tranquil Star Stakes winning Marscay mare Chador.
Chador in turn is from the Without Fear mare Emirate – a winning of the listed Cinderella Stakes as a two-year-old.
Border Rebel is yet another successful graduate of the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale.
The 2010 edition of the sale will be held on the Gold Coast from June 6 to 8 and will boast without doubt the best ever catalogue of youngsters.
PICS – Dan Costello.
