The unexposed gelding, True Rebel, has secured his place in the upcoming 2026 Victoria Derby after a hard-fought victory in a crucial lead-up race at Flemington on Saturday. While his jockey harbours some doubts about his stamina for the Derby distance, the three-year-old colt demonstrated enough to earn a shot at the Classic.
Trained by Danny O’Brien, the galloper showed a strong finish to clinch a narrow yet impressive win in the $400,000 Group 2 Drummond Golf Vase over 2040 metres.
True Rebel managed to wear down the determined leader Skua by a half-length. Following the race, jockey Blake Shinn expressed that he wasn’t entirely convinced True Rebel would handle the extra 460 metres of the Derby, but acknowledged the horse possesses qualities that might see him through.
“His attitude has carried him to 2000 – he may be better at a mile or 1800 – but class got him through today,” Shinn stated. “You’ve got the Derby at the doorstep next week. It is going to be really tempting and Danny is a master at making these right calls. It is going to be an interesting decision for him. It’s a Derby there for anyone’s keeping, it is a wide-open race and the horse is fit and well. If you get a sit-and-sprint type of Derby, it’ll play into his hands, but if you get a staying test I’ve got reservations.”
The $2.60 favourite in the Vase, True Rebel overtook Skua ($21), a former Derby favourite who reignited his Derby campaign with a tenacious performance. The filly Salann ($7) trailed another 1-3/4 lengths behind in third.
True Rebel’s breeding is notable, being by the dual Group 1 winner Rebel Dane from a Helmet mare descending from a Black Type-rich Darley line, albeit one focused on sprinting. O’Brien acquired him for $80,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale last year, yet he always appeared to be a stayer and would be given his Derby chance, provided he emerged from the Vase race unscathed.
“Physically he looks like a stayer, but on pedigree he doesn’t,” O’Brien explained about True Rebel, who notched his second career win from four starts in the Vase. “He’s a very relaxed customer and all of his races say he wants further and he got out to the 2000 today and stayed well. It is another step to go further, but all of the horses next Saturday are in the same boat.”
Previously the $4 favourite for the Derby, True Rebel saw his odds shorten to $3.20 immediately following the race. Geelong Classic winner Murshidi ($7) is now positioned as the equal second favourite.
With the Victoria Derby on the horizon, consider placing your bets with leading online bookmakers to secure the best odds.
