Rebel storms barricades
SIGGY Carr delivered the ride of the night to secure victory aboard Weekend Whisky but followed up with what she described as a horrible ride aboard first-starter Rebel Factor, still emerging triumphant to land a race-to-race riding double.
Rebel Factor was wellbacked ($5) but from a wide gate he was held back at the start and settled last.
The grey was still last at the top of the home straight but 200m out it seemingly sprouted wings and rattled home alongside another first starter Peace Be Upon Him ($4.40), going on to defeat him by a half-length.
Rebel Factor, owned and bred by Chris and Sharon Wickham, is prepared by Team Wells at Spreyton and co-trainer Dean Wells was rapt with the result.
“They had so much trouble getting this one going in the early days, but Chris has persevered, and I’m thrilled that the horse looks like being pretty good,” Wells said.
Carr was also delighted with the result and declared she thought the gelding could not win halfway up the home straight.
“The horse still does a few things wrong at the barriers, but that will get better with experience,” she said.
“It wasn’t my best ride and halfway home I didn’t give him a chance to win, but somehow he’s done it. “Great job.”
Chris Wickham said he almost gave up on the horse early on.
“There were issues early on and when he developed a foot problem, I thought he might not race but we persevered and here we are standing in the winner’s circle,” Wickham said.
“We will just keep on pottering along with him and hopefully we can pick up another win and then tip him out.”
Kelvin Hamiltontrained Need To Be Unique made up for a luckless fourth at his previous start with a resounding win in a strong class one handicap over 1400m.
Need To Be Unique ($6.50) powered home to score from race leader Iris West ($17) with Needs Toasting ($4 out to $12) a game third.
The winner has been a good money-spinner for Hamilton since coming into work in February.
Hamilton trialled the gelded son of Needs Further in April, but after finishing beyond midfield on debut he was sent for a spell and resumed with a second in Devonport at the end of August before breaking his maiden status at the same track two weeks later.
He went into this latest assignment on the back of a luckless fourth to So I’m Dreaming.
The way he hit the line he can be expected to be tried over longer trips.