The pressure was on LOVE REBEL Wednesday at Eagle Farm. Winless in 5 prior starts, doubt was growing amongst her connections, as with every “promising” maiden.
So it was very satisfying and indeed a relief, to see the daughter of FIERCE IMPACT expunge those doubts and unleash a powerful burst to put her rivals away in the 1400m contest. Regardless of apparent ability, nothing speaks louder than actions on the racecourse.
The victory was also a first for Francis and Christine Cook’s Mystery Downs racing and breeding operation in combination with Proven Thoroughbreds. The Cook’s jacket and Proven’s cap is only carried by one other horse, PROXIMA CENTAURI who coincidentally runs either at Goulburn Friday or Hawkesbury Sunday.
LOVE REBEL is the first foal of PARINEETI, a half sister to the Stakes winning Proven galloper CANDIKA, lost tragically whilst foaling 5 years ago. The opportunity to link up with Mystery Downs seemed to therefore have some good karma about it, attracting a bunch of CANDIKA’s owners to take shares.
Trainer Matt Hoysted was delighted to get the long-awaited result with a filly who’s always shown talent.
“Good to see this filly really let down when she has the right sort of run,” said Hoysted.
“She’s been frustrating but the key to today was having that room to go through her gears, unlike her prior start. You can see in her action when not chased off the bridle so quickly, she really lengthens.”
It was the first time at the trip for the 3 year old who gives every impression of wanting further, like her illustrious, triple GROUP 1 winning father. A $40,000 Inglis Classic yearling in 2024, LOVE REBEL is the second bargain filly to score in recent days for Hoysted/Proven after $35,000 Classic graduate APEX PREDATOR got the money on Saturday at Doomben.
It’s been a grand week for the Proven team with half a dozen winners in 7 days. That’s shot the seasonal total to 44 with a couple of weeks remaining.
