Classy Rebel has gone to another level this preparation and he'll be out for a fifth win in eight starts when he lines up at Dubbo Turf Club on Friday.
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Trained at the track by Dar Lunn, Classy Rebel has scored wins at Binnaway, Wellington, Gulgong, and Warren this time in while he also ran an eye-catching second to Golden Avenger at Dubbo last month.
The results haven't shocked Lunn despite just one win in 11 starts last preparation following a move north from the Victorian stables of Eric Musgrove.
"He's come back a different horse," Lunn said after Classy Rebel had a spell of roughly five months before the Binnaway win on May 1.
"He came from Melbourne last year in the winter and he didn't come up too well. He did win a race but his runs were fair without setting the world alight.
"We thought we'd turn him out and he'd come back a better horse, which he has."
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The Dubbo track was a Heavy 8 on Thursday morning and little is expected to change prior to the first of a bumper 10 races on Friday.
That's not a problem for Classy Rebel, who will have Clayton Gallagher in the saddle when he jumps in the Biggest Sports Weekend Benchmark 74 Handicap (1000m).
"It's no issue. He won at Gulgong by about seven or eight lengths on a heavy track there and the start before he was second on a heavy track so it won't affect him," Lunn said.
"He's ticking over well. He hasn't gone backwards and, if anything, I think he's got a little bit better."
Classy Rebel won a benchmark 66 event at Warren last weekend but the four-year-old gelding has proven previously a short back-up is no issue.
After running second to Golden Avenger at Dubbo last month he took took out the Gulgong Cup in commanding fashion the very next day and has had runs in the Coonamble Cannonball and at Warren since.
"He's ticking over well and he's a pretty tough horse. Nothing seems to bother him too much and he's done well since Warren so I can't fault him," Lunn said.
"He'll go well."
Friday will mark Gallagher's third time in the saddle of Classy Rebel and he'll be out to maintain a perfect record after piloting the wins at Gulgong and Warren.
Classy Rebel was a $3.60 chance on Thursday, while Canberra sprinter Proud Mia was a $3.50 favourite for trainer Nick Olive.
The top weight for the event is the Dean Mirfin-trained I Am Capitan and the Bathurst gelding was a $6.50 chance after running sixth on a heavy Rosehill surface first-up last time out.
Sensei Jackie is the other chance Lunn has in on Friday. The three-year-old gelding will make his first start for the stables in the McDonalds Wellington Maiden Handicap (1300m) after previously racing for North Coast trainer Neil Godbolt.
Racing starts 11.15am.
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