Above All turns it around at Canterbury

By Mathew Toogood

SYDNEY, Sept 26 AAP - Imported galloper Above All is scheduled to be sold later this week despite breaking through at Canterbury for his first win in nine months.

Above All formed part of a winning double for Chris Waller on Wednesday but the gelding's all-the-way win on the quick back-up after his ninth at Sunday's Randwick meeting had stewards quizzing the trainer and jockey Jim Cassidy over tactics.

Usually a horse ridden further back in the field, Above All was taken to the front by Cassidy.

The jockey told stewards Waller left it up to him and after jumping away fairly he decided to press forward and assumed the lead in the five-horse field when no others showed any intent to go to the front.

With Cassidy in the saddle for the first time, Above All held off Without Peer by a half head.

Stewards accepted Waller and Cassidy had no pre-race plan to lead but advised the premier trainer to be mindful of the rule to notify stewards if there was to be a change in riding tactics.

"I was probably on the worst horse in the race and had only four jockeys to beat. I just outsmarted them," Cassidy said.

Above All, who won his first Australian start at Hawkesbury last December before a frustrating run, is entered in the William Inglis spring thoroughbred sale on Friday.

Cassidy was quick with a one-liner when he returned to scale on Above All.

"I couldn't remember if you said it was my last chance or his," he said to Waller.

Waller made it a double when Coup Acclaim took out the Gow-Gates Insurance Handicap (1900m) while trainer Grahame Begg also notched a winning double with Amarachi and Magita.

Gary Portelli has always had a good opinion of three-year-old Rebel Dane and the colt didn't let the trainer down as he raced home down the outside to win his debut in the NGS Super Maiden Plate (1250m) .

"I've had a big wrap on him but they can come to the races sometimes and let you down," Portelli said.

"He did what I was hoping he would do today. I'd like to see him over seven furlongs (1400m) at Randwick and then go to Flemington or something at some point. But we'll just wait and see. I haven't looked too far ahead."