Rebel Raider claims second Derby

By Greg Irvine

ADELAIDE, May 2 AAP - Rebel Raider confirmed his place as Australia's leading staying three-year-old when he romped away with Saturday's Group One South Australian Derby at Morphettville.

Sent out the favourite with on and off-course punters, Rebel Raider romped away in the straight to win by four lengths in the $300,000 2500m feature.

Trainer Leon Macdonald praised stable rider Clare Lindop for her expert handling of Rebel Raider, despite giving him some concerns during the race.

After rolling forward from the start Rebel Raider was trapped three deep passing the post on the first occasion.

Lindop allowed her mount to stroll along and after crossing to the front of the field she wouldn't be headed.

Lindop kept the reigning Victoria Derby winner rolling and skipped clear of Astro Gains for the easiest of wins.

"Let's face it. Clare made the decision. She was three deep. She went to the front and rode the horse tremendously."

"And she is a champion.

"I said to her before the race to ride him like a good thing and she did."

Macdonald said the catch-me-if-you-can tactics adopted by Lindop after crossing to the lead weren't those planned pre-race.

"I put my head in my hands at the half-mile (800m) and thought `shit what's going on here'," he said.

"But coming to the corner everything was under pressure and I became pretty comfortable when we rounded the turn."

The win was the second Group One Derby for Rebel Raider who scored the upset of last spring when he won the Victoria Derby at $101.

Lindop, who received rapturous applause from a big ownership group on return to scale, was all smiles in the winner's circle.

"It's a big thrill," she said.

"We expected to ride him a bit closer today. Last start he missed the start a bit and he got back further than we wanted.

"But leaving the straight for the first time I was out three deep with no cover.

"The last thing Leon said to me was ride him like a good thing, so I did.

"I decided to get him going and make them chase. At the home turn I knew I had it."

Rebel Raider ($2.60 fav) won easily over a pair of Peter Moody-trained runners with Astro Gains ($15) second while Fitoussi ($11) was a further 1-3/4 lengths third.

Macdonald said Rebel Raider would be immediately spelled and set for the big staying races of the Melbourne Spring Carnival.

"He's done enough and he can have a break. We'll nominate him for the Cups," he said.

Rebel Raider, a locally-bred son of Reset, was purchased by Macdonald for $150,000 at the 2007 Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast.

His earnings have now shot to a tick under $1.3 million.

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