Cyclone Rebel upsets at big odds at Alexandra Park

[Wandering Eyes]

By Michael Guerin

As one door closes, another opens.

That tells the tale of Cyclone Rebel, who caused a mammoth upset winning on debut at Alexandra Park on Friday night at $70 on the tote.

The son of Bettors Delight had to be good too, overcoming a second line draw in the hands of Matty White to divebomb Andretti, whose drive from Andre Poutama to be trailing early from barrier eight deserved better.

But the winner did what very few juveniles do, particularly in Woodlands Sires’ Stakes heats and trainer Tate Hopkins admits he was a touch surprised.

“I have always liked him but you don’t really expect them to win like that on debut,” he told HRNZ.

“When you see them draw the second line in a capacity field for a Sires’ Stakes heat, I’ll be honest I would have been happy to see him running on well for sixth or seventh.”

Cyclone Rebel’s case was helped by a searing early speed as three of the favourites all got involved early but he still had to be excellent to win and he is bred to be good.

He is the younger half brother to Cyclone Jordy (Art Major) who won the Young Guns Cardigan Bay Stakes at Alexandra Park last season before being sold for good money to West Australia where he has proven to be one of the best of his age.

“At the time this horse was a yearling and the guys who own them, who have been great to deal with for a long time, decided if they were going to sell Jordy they wanted to keep this horse.

“So a deal was done where Frank and Ann (Cooney) came in on this horses with the guys who bred him and they now all race him together.

“But that meant he didn’t go through the sales so he isn’t Harness Millions eligible.”

Hopkins of course worked for Frank Cooney for a long time and was then in training partnership with the popular horseman before Frank took a step back from the business after a race smash.

Cyclone Rebel is the fourth foal of Cyclone Kate, who won 21 races here and in Australia for well-known owners Mark Lyon, former All Black Ant Strachan, trainer Gareth Dixon and the famous cricketing brothers Kyle and Heath Mills.

“He is obviously very good and I suppose we have to start thinking about the Sires’ Stakes but I will need to give him a couple more starts first to see exactly where he is at,” says Hopkins, who is training 12 at the moment.

While he came from a second line draw the night’s other big winners at Alexandra Park were all on the speed.

Sooner The Bettor defied a weird odds drift to lead throughout in the main pace with Harrison Orange getting his timing spot on to beat Better Knuckle Up and Jeremiah, with a 26.8 second last 400m as they all prepare for the Spring Cup in a few weeks.

Odds-on favourite Castana continued his great run of form after trailing for most of the main trot, things only getting a little tricky when Bolt For The Hill ran to the lead at the 400m but driver Taitlyn Hanara was able to get back to the passing lane to grab the win.

And Shezsofast was able to use her speed to lead for most of her Dunstan Feeds Sires’ Stakes heat for the girls to post a 1:56.2 mile rate for the 1700m.

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