Adelaide Trainers Get Spring Boost

Tuesday, 02 August 2011 06:15

Spring prospects for Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas could receive a massive boost from an unlikely source on Saturday.

The Adelaide-based training partners are getting ready to welcome back dual Derby winner Rebel Raider from retirement for the start of a campaign aimed at overdue Cups glory.

Almost a year after vets called time on his racetrack career, Rebel Raider is among the nominations for the Spring Stakes - a $115,000 race over 1200m at Morphettville on Saturday.

"He fractured a sesamoid in the Makybe Diva (Stakes) at Flemington last year and the vets advised us that was it for him because it was such a bad injury," Gluyas told AAP.

Gluyas said attempts to stand the Victoria Derby and South Australian Derby winner at stud met with a lukewarm response from breeding farms.

"The horse was on the breeding merry-go-round there for a while before the owners decided to put him back into work," Gluyas said.

"They wanted to see if he could sustain being kept in training and he's done that now up to this point.

"He's done enough concussion-type work to say that the injury isn't going to worry him again."

With regular jockey Clare Lindop engaged, Rebel Raider resumes in a renewal of the weight-for-age race in which he scored a stunning first-up win last year.

"Mentally, all the indications are that he is ready to go but ultimately racing's always going to be the judge of that," Gluyas said.

"It's going to be an interesting day because it's always good to get a genuine Group horse back at the races."

A forward showing from Rebel Raider will keep the six-year-old on track to join stablemates Majestic Music and Southern Speed on a trail to Melbourne spring riches.

"Majestic Music will be set for the Myer Classic while Southern Speed will also be targeted at mares' races," Gluyas said.

The Spring Stakes entries also include accomplished stayer Alcopop and Peter Moody's Oakleigh Plate placegetter Avenue.

Pictures: Jenny Barnes