Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators
Deni Roberts was quite happy to have the $2.50 favourite Ima Rockabilly Rebel travelling quietly five back on the pegs in an Indian file affair in the 2536m Freshest Hits And Throwbacks On Nova Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night — until the pace slackened alarmingly.
With the frontrunning Master Leighton dawdling along and ambling through the opening quarter of the final mile in 33.8sec. it forced Roberts into action, and she switched Ima Rockabilly Rebel off the pegs and dashed forward to the breeze to ensure that the pace increased.
Ima Rockabilly Rebel eventually got to the front 300m from home, and he sprinted over the final 400m in 27.6sec. as he fought on grimly to hold on and win by a half-head from the fast-finishing $8 chance Moonlite Drive.
“I know that Ima Rockabilly Rebel is not a breeze horse, but the circumstances forced our hand,” said Roberts. “It was a big run, and he just held on. He had every reason to be a bit tired.”
Ima Rockabilly Rebel, trained by Greg and Skye Bond, disappointed as a $1.28 favourite when he finished second to McArdles Gem ten days earlier.
“He had a few little health issues that he has overcome,” said Roberts. “And I was a lot more confident tonight. It was a stronger field, but I was pretty happy with him. It all worked out perfectly.”
Ima Rockabilly Rebel ended a losing sequence of seven which included four seconds and a third, fourth and fifth placings. He now has raced 29 times for 11 wins, 11 placings and $104,239.
Roberts returned to Gloucester Park on Saturday night when she landed a double with Bronzed ($6.50) and ForbiddenJewel ($3.50).