Hopkins plays the long game as Cyclone Rebel rebounds

Trainer Tate Hopkins knows his weekend could have been so much different for he and Cyclone Rebel.

But after a win at Alexandra Park on Friday night he has no regrets about missing the far richer Sires’ Stakes Final at Addington on Tuesday.

Cyclone Rebel (Bettor’s Delight) qualified for the final by winning his heat at Alexandra Park on debut, no mean feat in itself which suggested he is a smart young pacer.

Hopkins was planning to take him to Addiington until he only finished third in a moderate race at Alexandra Park last week, hardly the sort of form that inspires you to spend thousands heading to a Group 1 to butt heads with Jumal.

“We were thinking about it but last week dented my confidence,” says Hopkins.

“Looking back it shouldn’t have because it was probably trainer error.

“He won his trial so well the week before I thought he didn’t need much more so I think I was too easy on him leading into last week.

“But he was fitter tonight and that was much more like it.”

CYCLONE REBEL REPLAY

But even though Cyclone Rebel was able to make it two wins in just four starts, Hopkins says he will watch Tuesday’s Group 1 for the babies at Addington feeling he has done the right thing.

“You look at horses like Jumal who have had that extra racing and are clearly very good and you realise how hard it would be done there, especially now he has drawn barrier three.

“We could have gone down there and maybe gutted in early in his career whereas he has had a confidence-boosting win tonight.”

Hopkins says the logical last aim for the season for Cyclone Rebel is the Golden Gait Finals at Alexandra Park on December 19.

“I am sure he is qualified now with four starts here but it won’t matter because he will need at least another race here before he heads there anyway.

“I know the stake has been reduced to $50,000 but it is still $50,000 on your home track so we are glad to have that as a target and then he has plenty of good three-year-old races he can target next season which we think he could be competitive in.”

Another impressive two-year-old winner on Friday night was debutant Nazare who justified his hot favouritism to win in a 1:57.4 mile rate with a slick 26.6 second last 400m.

He is one of 14 two-year-olds Arna Donnelly has in work and rated a horse who will make an even better three-year-old, with the Cambridge trainer realistic about the fact she might run out of races to qualify him for the Golden Gait.

And in one of the more unusual trotting doubles at Alexandra Park in recent years driver Joshua Dickie drove a winner for his father John training Paramount Spur and one for his fiancee Sammy Kilgour training Loteria won later in the programme.

For complete race results, click here.

by Michael Guerin, for Harness Racing New Zealand