True Rebel’s jockey still has reservations about him running the Victoria Derby distance, but the untapped gelding gave himself a shot at next week’s Classic with victory in a key lead-up at Flemington on Saturday.
The Danny O’Brien -trained galloper finished strongly score a narrow-but-impressive win in the $400,000 Group 2 Drummond Golf Vase.
True Rebel wore down gritty leader Skua to score a half-length win in the 2040-metre event and while he didn’t emphatically convince Blake Shinn he would relish the extra 460m of the Derby, he said he has attributes to get him there.
“His attitude has carried him to 2000 – he may be better at a mile or 1800 – but class got him through today,” Shinn said.
“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.”
TRUE REBEL WINS THE VASE 💪
The Derby awaits Danny O’Brien’s Gelding!
@blake_shinn @DOBrienracing https://t.co/PgXxYI1arw
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 24, 2026
True Rebel, the $2.60 Vase favourite, wore down one-time Derby favourite Skua ($21), who got his Derby campaign back on track with a gutsy display, with filly Salann ($7) 1-3/4 lengths away third.
True Rebel is by dual Group 1-winning sprinter Rebel Dane out of a Helmet mare from a Black Type-laden, but sprint-based, Darley family.
O’Brien knew that when he paid $80,000 for him at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, but said he had always appeared a stayer and would be given his chance in the Derby provided he takes no harm from the Vase.
“Physically he looks like a stayer, but on pedigree he doesn’t,” O’Brien said of True Rebel, who registered his second win at start No 4 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.”
The $4 Derby favourite before the Vase, True Rebel was into as tight as $3.20 straight after the race with Geelong Classic winner Murshidi ($7) on the second line of betting.
