Rebel Is Mc Auliffe’s King
16 February, 2019
Thoroughbred
Rebel King has recorded one of his finest wins yet in this afternoon’s Listed Cyril Flower Stakes (1200m) at Ascot.
Unplaced in his first three starts this campaign, Rebel King was able to bounce back to his best this afternoon, thanks to a patient ride from Mitchell Pateman.
Baraki Beats, the outsider of the small field, set the tempo in front, while Wrinkly was to his outside.
Rebel King was able to settle on the back of Baraki Beats and perfectly poised coming to the turn.
When Baraki Beats slightly drifted away from the rail on the turn for home, Rebel King was able to capitalise on the small opening and kick away to score by more than a length.
River Dance finished second, while First Among Equals produced another encouraging performance in third.
Race favourite Celebrity Dream finished fourth in a performance William Pike described as “okay”.
Winning trainer Darren Mc Auliffe said the seven-year-old was one of, if not, his favourite horses.
“He’s been a fantastic horse that I home-bred,” he said.
“He just an old marvel.
“I was there when he took his first breath as a foal and I’ll probably be there when he takes his last.
“The race was a lot weaker than it was the last couple of runs and that was the key to it because we just mapped for the perfect run.
Mc Auliffe said Rebel King, now a four-time Listed winner, had plenty more runs left in him before his career finished.
Meanwhile, owner-breeders Bob and Sandra Peters, together with trainers Grant and Alana Williams, have dominated the other feature event of the day, the Listed Challenge Stakes (1500m).
Jockey William Pike made the decision to go with Creative Hero, picture above, over Regal Power and Final Hearing and it proved to be the right one, but only just.
Creative Hero scraped home over Regal Power, who was desperately unlucky in the home straight.
Peters said all three horses would progress towards the Listed Lex Piper Stakes (1600m) on March 2.
Elsewhere at Ascot, Kate Witten has recorded her first Saturday winning double.
Witten, who took out the Mandurah Cup last month, continued her run of good form aboard Macroy in the Amelia Park Handicap (1000m), then again in the Own The Dream Handicap (1800m) aboard Mycroft.
Tim Walker