Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
WA-bred four-year-old Rockstar Rebel made a rare trip to Gloucester Park on Friday, and he returned to Capel trainer-reinsman Aiden De Campo’s Capel stable as the winner of the Fly Like An Eagle Pace.
Rockstar Rebel’s previous 13 runs hade been at Bunbury and Pinjarra, and his win at $6.20 over the fast-finishing Cheer The Major and Athabascan showed that he is capable of further city successes.
“He is an honest pacer, but he has a few vices and a few breathing problems,” said De Campo. “However, when he puts it all together, he goes good.”
Rockstar Rebel started from the inside of the back line, and he raced in fifth position, three back on the pegs, while the $2.25 favourite Bettorstartdreaming was setting the pace from Athabascan in the breeze.
Rockstar Rebel was hemmed in on the pegs in fifth place 400m from home before De Campo got him into the clear and sent him four wide on the home turn to burst to the front in the straight and win by almost a length from the flying Cheer The Major, with Athabascan wilting to third after taking the lead on the home turn.
Rockstar Rebel is by American sire Rock N Roll Heaven and is the first foal out of Art Major mare Penny Wonda. He is owned by his breeder Sean Barrett, owner of a Capel concreting business. Rockstar Rebel has raced 34 times for seven wins and 11 placings for stakes of $48,446.
Penny Wonda’s half-brother Mista Rush was bred and owned by Barrett, and he was retired with a splendid record of 20 starts for eight wins, six placings and earnings of $82,535. Hew won the 2014 Country Derby at Bunbury and finished second in the Group 1 Westbred Classic for three-year-old colts and geldings in July 2014.