There was a lot to like in the winning career debut of the Astern colt Dark Rebel in the Vinery Hcp (1400m) for two-year-olds at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
The second longest priced runner in the six-horse field, Dark Rebel came from last on the turn under Josh Parr to defeat the rank outsider Maurice's Choice (Maurice) by two lengths with the odds-on favourite Cotehele (Tavistock) a neck back in third.
A leggy individual with a long, loping stride, Dark Rebel holds entries for the Group II BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm on May 29 and the Group JJ Atkins (1600m) at Eagle Farm on June 12.
Trainer Edward Cummings said he will monitor how the son of Astern comes out of his debut success on a heavy track before committing to the trip.
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uo;It was pretty easy in the end. He’s shown a bit of class at home from day one,” Cummings said.
“Hugh (Bowman) got off him (after finishing third in a 900m trial at Rosehill) and said don’t worry with six furlongs, he has enough class for seven, and we took his advice.
Cummings said that they were not overly worried about the heavy track.
‘His mum won as dominantly at Canterbury when on debut on a soft 6. She was by Commands and was a nice horse in her own right.
‘There is a fair bit of water to pass under the bridge but he holds nominations for Brisbane and we would have to give that some serious thought.
Josh Parr said that dark Rebel seems bomb-proof.
“He is a nice horse, very casual who took it all in his stride,” Parr said.
“First-up over 7-furlongs he handles it with ease. The ground is very testing, but he appreciated it.”
A $120,000 purchase by Myrtle House/Edward Cummings out of the Glastonbury Farms draft at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Dark Rebel is the fifth winner from as many to race out of the She Must Be Obeyed.
The daughter of Commands out of the talented Last Tycoon mare Yvonne who won her first five races including the Group III SAJC Lakewood Stud Stakes and Listed SAJC HC Nitschke Stakes. She would later add the Listed SAJC John D Lee Stakes.
She Must Be Obeyed has a yearling filly by Nicconi and a weanling colt by Star Witness. She was covered by Star Witness again last spring.
Dark Rebel becomes the fifth first crop winner for Darley Stud’s Astern.
The Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes winner will stand at Darley NSW in 2021 at a fee of $16,500.
