Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Speedy four-year-old Rockstar Rebel emerged as an excellent prospect for the $50,000 Nights of Thunder in January with another brilliant frontrunning performance to win the $20,250 Catalano Truck And Equipment Sales Ugga Dugga Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“He’s a good sprinter and has excellent gate speed,” said trainer-reinsman Aiden De Campo after firing the gelding out from barrier five to charge past Woodlea Ragnar and take up the running 350m after the start.
Rockstar Rebel, an $18.60 chance, then relished his pacemaking role and went on to win by just over a length $41 outsider Woodlea Ragnar, who has a losing sequence of 22 but will pay to follow.
Unconditional ($26) ran on from ninth at the bell to be third, with Vulcan Star ($10) also impressing in finishing with a brilliant late burst, out six wide, to be fourth, after being ninth at the 350m.
Rockstar Rebel rated 1.55.2 over the 1730m, which improved on his 1.56.8 rate when he led and won easily from Ultimate Rocker over the same journey two starts earlier. He now has raced 46 times for nine wins, 12 placings and stakes of $71,293.
Ifeel Sikdarl, the $1.60 favourite, started from the No. 1 barrier and was beaten for early speed by Woodleigh Ragnar and Rockstar Rebel. He then raced in fifth position, three back on the pegs, and was hampered for room until gaining an inside run in the closing stages to finish fifth.