Morphettville trainer Leon Macdonald is making another raid on Sydney’s autumn carnival with the appropriately named Rebel Raider.

The burly Reset colt takes on Golden Slipper and Sires Produce Stakes winner Sebring in tomorrow’s Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.

“He’s quite a nice horse,” Macdonald said. “He’s probably more a staying type of horse but he’s won his only two starts (this campaign) so we thought we’d have a go.”

Fresh-up Rebel Raider broke his maiden status with a city win over 1410m at Cheltenham Park, then stepped up significantly in class to win the Group 3 Sires Produce Stakes over a mile at Morphettville.

In that race the well supported Offsider, in the John Salder yard, quickly loomed up to Rebel Raider and looked to be going easily but as soon as some competition arrived, Macdonald’s youngster switched back on and fought back to win.

“He was very strong at the end of that race which is what influenced us to go this way. He’s a very nice horse.”

Macdonald said the colt had settled in well over the last 10 days and worked well on Tuesday morning.

He takes another quantum leap to tomorrow’s Group 1 Champagne Stakes where Sebring, aiming for the juvenile Triple Crown, dominates betting at $1.90 with Sportingbet.

Rebel Raider, to be ridden by Clare Lindop, is at $16.00.

Macdonald will also back up smart filly Serious Speed in the Group 1 Patinack Farm Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

The three-year-old has been racing well in Sydney, winning the Group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) second-up before a fats finishing fifth after going back to near last in the Group 1 Doncaster Handicap (1600m) behind Triple Honour.

Craig Williams is back aboard tomorrow and Macdonald is confident the filly will handle the extra distance but concedes favourite Tuesday Joy will prove the horse to beat.
(Source: Racing & Sports)