Cyclone blows them away

Cyclone Rebel (Bettor’s Delight) dented a few reputations last night when he stormed home to win the first heat of the Woodlands Stud Sire’s Stakes Series at Alexandra Park.

From his second row draw driver Matty White settled the gelding third last in the outside running line. With 800 metres to run he moved out three wide to commence a run and forced Nymbal to come out in front of him which gave him a nice run into the business end of the race. Turning in, White hooked him out wide and he stormed home to beat Andretti by half a neck.

CYCLONE REBEL REPLAY

The winning time was 2-02.9 – a mile rate of 1-56.3 with the last half run in 58.7.

“He (White) said to me before the race that if we were running on it’s a success. Yep, he got the perfect trip and had a very good finishing burst,” Hopkins said.

He was also happy with his other runner in the race, The Savoy (Art Major) who finished seventh.

“He went really good and he’ll take a lot of improvement out of that.”

The win was Hopkins 100^th of which eighty seven have been with Frank Cooney.

Prior to last night’s win Cyclone Rebel had been to a qualifying trial and two workouts.

“I’ll be kind of honest, when I saw the draw I said to the owners that if he was running on for sixth or seventh that’s a pass mark. He’s blown that completely out of the water.”

Hopkins says Cyclone Rebel is typical of the stock of Bettor’s Delight – they grow another leg come race day.

“He’s a laidback dude at home and just does what he has to. He’s a genuine and kind horse at home. When he gets off the property he knows it’s go time.”

Cyclone Rebel has now qualified for the $100,000 Woodlands Sires’ Stakes Final at Addington on Cup Day.

“At this stage it’s in the back of our mind. We’ve got to plan a few things and have a couple more starts and see how he comes through things. Everyone hopes they can get one that can win on debut. To do it is really satisfying.”

Thirty four year old Hopkins trains from Frank and Ann Cooney’s property at Taupaki.

“Frank is a legendary horseman here in the north. To be able to call on him every day to ask him different things is a really big help. It’s an amazing property to train from so I’m pretty lucky.”

Tait has twelve horses in work with a few more waiting in the wings.

“I’ve got a real nice team of two year olds that are starting to step out. Two years olds are where it’s at so that’s quite exciting. Frank and Ann are down there just about every day and I couldn’t do it without them any my wife. There are a few others that pop in and help out. It’s a pretty cool operation.”

Cyclone Rebel is owned by Mark Lyon, Ant Strachan, Kyle and Heath Mills, Gareth Dixon and Ann Cooney and is a half-brother to outstanding pacer Cyclone Jordy.

He won three of his five starts in New Zealand and finished his two year old season by winning the Cardigan Bay Young Guns Final in Auckland before he was sold to clients of Gray Hall snr in Perth.

Cyclone Jordy remains unbeaten in Australia and his nine wins there including the $150,000 Group One Golden Slipper at Gloucester Park.

“This horse is built like Jordy. He’s a solid little bloke who’s a nice size.”

Hopkins was also happy with his two year old filly Booty Shaker (Always B Miki) who ran seventh in the Dunstan Horse Feeds Sires’ Stakes Heat for two year old fillies.

“She got home really good and I couldn’t be happier with her.”

Cyclone Rebel’s pedigree goes back to Advance Debra, the dam of Courage Under Fire who went through his two year old season unbeaten. His wins included the 1998 New Zealand Sires’ Stakes Final.

Dixon trained the dam of Cyclone Rebel, Cyclone Kate, to win six races. She also raced in Australia where she won a further fifteen.

The ownership group have plenty more stock out of Cyclone Kate to go on with, including an Always B Miki yearling and a Bulldog Hanover weanling. Both are colts.

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink