Renegade Rebel further his Classic prospects with a dominant front-running performance to win the Listed Gingernuts Salver at Ellerslie on Sunday.
A 20th individual stakes winner for Westbury Stud’s El Roca, the strapping three-year-old continued his rapid progression by bridging the gap from the maiden grade to black-type company with aplomb.
The Karaka farm graduate had finished runner-up when resuming at Te Aroha before going one better over 1600 metres at Tauranga before Christmas and trainer Cody Cole’s conditioning skills were to the fore with the gelding winning again over 2100 metres off a month between runs.
He broke well to make the running under Matthew Cameron and, after slipping clear into the straight, the strapping gelding held a strong gallop the post to hold all challenges at bay.
“It’s a really good feeling and he got a soft time in front and Matthew is just so good, it’s great to have him on and doing what he does best,” Cole said.
Renegade Rebel’s success at the first time of asking confirmed him to be on target for a crack at the G1 New Zealand Derby, for which he is now a $12 chance, back at northern headquarters on March 2.
“We’ll see how he comes through this first, that’s the most important thing, and then plot a path,” Cole said.
Bred by Denise Howell, Renegade Rebel was purchased out of Westbury’s draft at the New Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for $40,000.
He is a son of the Duelled mare Regalia, who was successful on five occasions, and she is a half-sister to the two-time Group 1 winner Flitter and the Singapore black-type winner My Royal Captain.
The pedigree page further features the G2 Matriarch Stakes winner Jessy Belle and the G2 Sandown Guineas winner Ringerdingding.