Brilliant sprinter…Border Rebel. Picture: Gary Graham
Source: The Daily Telegraph
BORDER Rebel will need all his new-found bulk to successfully shoulder what is expected to be a modern weight-carrying record in the Listed $100,000 Carrington Stakes (1100m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.The brilliant sprinter is the highest rated runner among the 12 nominations and under the quality conditions of the Carrington, he is likely to receive around the 60kg mark.
The highest weight carried to win the race in the past 30 years was Identikit’s 59.5kg back in 1998.
Cheyne Walk (1977) was the last Carrington winner to lump 60kg. And Border Rebel’s trainer Sue Grills is aware the handicapper is likely to set her five-year-old a big task.
“I realise he might get a big weight, which is a worry, but he has to start somewhere,” Grills said. “At this stage he will probably run.”
Racing NSW has extended Carrington nominations until tomorrow morning and will release weights later in the day.Grills has also entered Border Rebel for the $100,000 Bat Out Of Hell Handicap (900m) on the Gold Coast on Saturday but is strongly leaning toward a Randwick start.
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Border Rebel, nicknamed the Tamworth Tornado, has won 12 of his 17 starts but hasn’t raced since a rare unplaced effort when sixth in Pinwheel’s Ramornie Handicap at Grafton in July.
He had won three of his previous four starts, all at Listed level, including the Takeover Target Stakes at Gosford.
Grills said Border Rebel had developed further during his spell and was a much stronger racehorse this season.
“I think the best is still ahead for him,” Grills said.
“Border Rebel is only a small horse but he has definitely strengthened and bulked up during his break.
“He has been in work about 11 weeks now, but I haven’t been able to give him a barrier trial. He did have a gallop between races the other day and went quite well.
“He’s probably a little bit fat but is certainly fit enough for Saturday’s race.”
Grills said she hadn’t locked in plans for the reigning NSW Country Horse of the Year.
“I’m just going to take it one race at a time and see how he pulls up after each run,” she added. “Every time I make plans they come unstuck.”
Star apprentice Tim Bell has ridden Border Rebel to 11 of his 12 wins and will again have the mount in the Carrington.
His opponents are likely to include Cardinal Virtue, an impressive winner at Randwick on Boxing Day, Keen Commander, Phenomenal Lass and Youthful Jack.
Cardinal Virtue’s trainer David Payne is keen to back up with his sprinter in the Carrington and has already sounded out Sydney’s leading apprentice Josh Adams.
In Saturday’s other feature race, the Listed $100,000 Tattersall’s Club Cup (2000m), there are 18 nominations with trainer Chris Waller entering five runners – Alexander Of Hales, Bellagio Wynn, Snow Alert, Strike One and Triple Honour.