Rebel Call made the best possible start to his racing career when he scored a thrilling win in the listed Perth Stakes (1100m) at Ascot today.
In a perfectly timed run, Rebel Call got the result in a photo finish over the previously unbeaten youngster Benny’s Halo, while early leader Cat Five was third, back on the fence.
“That’s really nice leading into the Karrakatta (Plate),” trainer Joe Byrne said.
“We were hoping we might be able to get the slip on Benny coming to the turn – and in the end we just got there.”
The promising colt had shown he had plenty of ability with three impressive trial wins at Belmont – one in September and October and another in February.
“Chloe (Chatfield) had ridden him in all his three trials and she loved him – it was a shame she wasn’t on him today.”
Rebel Call will now head to the Karrakatta Plate, Perth’s $500,000 feature juvenile race, where he will most likely be joined by stablemate Bim Bom Bay who won on debut at Ascot on Wednesday.
Joe Byrne purchased Rebel Call on behalf of major stable client Ong Tiong Seng for $160,000 from the Rothwell Park Thoroughbreds draft at the 2009 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale at the Gold Coast.
Singapore based Ong is a long time Magic Millions client who has tasted great success over the years with his stock in both Australia and Singapore.
His latest star Rebel Call is a son of Danehill’s former sprint star sensation Exceed and Excel and from the stakes performed mare Terrenora.
A daughter of Encosta de Lago, Terrenora won three races, including two in Melbourne, and was third in a Group Three Matriarch Stakes.
She extended her 100 per cent winner to runner statistics with her third runner Rebel Call now a winner – following in the hoofsteps of his older half siblings Teraset and Tellora.
Winner: Rebel Call (Exceed and Excel-Terrenora)
Race: WATC Perth Stakes LR (1100m)
Sold for: $160,000
Sale: 2009 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale
Vendor: Rothwell Park Thoroughbreds
Buyer: Ong Tiong Seng
Earnings: $52,200
Owner(s): TS Ong
Trainer: Joe Byrne (Ascot)
