Dark Rebel (AUS)
Dark Rebel (AUS)
2 c Astern – She Must Be Obeyed by Commands
O: Bangaloe Stud (Mgr: Ms J Ritchie), E A Cummings, A Blight, G C G Ashworth, B M Howson, C T Baldwin, G McDonald, J Kolenko, Mrs L A Kolenko, Mrs L R Forwood, N D Keevers, N A Denby, T W Forwood, Ms D Veale, C Low & J W B Tan
B: Stud Consultants Pty Ltd, Packaging Investments Aust, Indian Pacific Bloodstock, NSW
T: Edward Cummings
S: 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale V: Glastonbury Farms P: Myrtle House/Edward Cummings, $120,000
W: Vinery 2YO Handicap, 1400m, May 12, Warwick Farm
The Edward Cummings-trained Dark Rebel became the latest first crop winner for Darley’s Astern (Medaglia D’Oro) when he cruised to an impressive victory at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
Making his competitive debut following a third-placed trial effort on April 27, $16 chance Dark Rebel was ridden patiently by Josh Parr and was positioned last of the six-runner field turning for home.
Situated widest of all entering the straight, Dark Rebel picked up impressively in Heavy 8 conditions and eased to a two-length win over Maurice’s Choice (Maurice) ($16), while $1.50 favourite Cotehele (Tavistock) could only manage third.
Connections were so impressed by the two-year-old colt’s performance that a trip to Queesnland could now be on the cards, with Dark Rebel holding nominations for the BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) at Eagle Farm on May 29 and the JJ Atkins Plate (Gr 1, 1600m) at the track a fortnight later.
“There is a fair bit of water to pass under the bridge but he holds nominations for Brisbane and we would have to give that some serious thought,” Cummings said post-race.
“It was pretty easy in the end. He’s shown a bit of class at home from day one.”
Dark Rebel is the fifth winner from five foals to race out of Commands (Danehill) mare She Must Be Obeyed. He is a grandson of Group 3 winner Yvonne (Last Tycoon), dam of the stakes-placed Miss O’Brien (Fastnet Rock).
She Must Be Obeyed has a yearling filly by Nicconi (Bianconi), the sire of Nature Strip, and a weanling colt by Star Witness (Starcraft). She was covered by Star Witness again last spring.
Dark Rebel also became the fifth individual winner for Astern, who has been churning out the winners since the Seradess got him off the mark at the end of February. The Mark Kavanagh-trained filly also became his first stakes winner when she took out the Cinderella Stakes (Listed, 1050m) in March.