Rebel’s Gamble produced one of the most taking performances of this season’s All-Weather Championships in the Listed BetMGM Spring Cup at Lingfield Park.
A dual novice winner over six furlongs, Karl Burke’s son of Dark Angel was tackling seven furlongs for the first time following a second on his handicap debut at Southwell.
Rebel’s Gamble settled in last place under Clifford Lee before scything through the field in the straight, ultimately seeing off the 100-rated Rajeko by almost two lengths.
The performance impressed the handicapper, with Rebel’s Gamble revised rating of 105 making him the highest-rated qualifier so far in the Three-Year-Old category.
Lee said: “We ended up going a nice gallop, which helped Rebel’s Gamble. The plan wasn’t to be at the back, but he was just messing about in the gate and missed the break a bit.
“I always knew he would get the trip, and the last day at Southwell we were giving away a stone [to Humam]. I just thought seven furlongs would always suit him a bit better.
“He has a great turn of foot, and I wasn’t expecting him to pick up so well, but he’s done it quite nicely. He is turning into a very nice horse.
“He is a big baby and a horse who doesn’t really come through horses and tends to hold back a little bit, so I just gave myself the option to switch in or out. It was the quickest route to go down the inside and he’s got there quite nicely for me.
“There will be a bit of a question mark when he does come to run on turf, but I feel he is a horse who will act on turf as well as the all-weather."
The Horse Watchers enjoyed a day to remember at Wolverhampton as the syndicate landed the Listed BetMGM Lady Wulfruna Stakes with Royal Zabeel and BetMGM Lincoln Trial Handicap with Symbol Of Light.
Royal Zabeel had it to do on official ratings but showed he is progressing at a rate of knots as he beat Group winners Witch Hunter and Al Shabab Storm by three quarters of a length. Now rated 111, Mick Appleby’s four-year-old will pursue a campaign on the turf.
The Julie Camacho-trained Symbol Of Light benefited from an enterprising ride from Jason Watson as he repelled Farasi Lane by a short-head. The six-year-old will head for the Mile final on a career-high mark of 105 in a bid to better last year’s sixth.
There may have been Finals Day clues in France over the weekend as Chantilly staged a card featuring several hotly contested conditions races. Among the winners was three-year-old Woodshauna, who delivered a smooth success in the Listed Prix Montenica for Francis Graffard.
Talented sprinter Valiant Force added another string to his bow as he proved his stamina for a mile in a conditions race at Dundalk. Adrian Murray’s four-year-old had previously finished third in the Listed BetUK Hever Sprint at Southwell.
Almosh’her looks a horse to follow in the Middle Distance division after overcoming a mark of 88 on his handicap debut at Kempton Park. Charlie Fellowes’ son of Sea The Stars was touched off at the track on his previous start, having made a winning introduction at Southwell.
