On pure talent, Dar Lunn has had better horses than Classy Rebel but he's had few with such a desire to win.
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Lunn's stable star continued a stellar preparation on Sunday when taking out the QUBE Agri Warren Jockey Club Sprint (1200m).
Not even 62kg on his back and a wade gate could stop Classy Rebel from making it a stunning nine wins from 15 starts this preparation.
"I've had better horses than him but none do what he's done. He's a good sprinter," Lunn told Sky Thoroughbred Central on Sunday.
The win continued a fantastic six months of racing for Classy Rebel and it iced a day to remember for jockey Clayton Gallagher.
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After riding three straight winners for Gulgong trainer Brett Thompson early in the day, Gallagher and Classy Rebel produced another tough performance to get the job done in the final race.
As has been the case for most of this preparation, Gallagher and Classy Rebel ($2.70) got away well and managed to get across from barrier eight to take the lead early on from Patrick May ($2.60 favourite) and The Long Run ($13).
Classy Rebel stayed at the front for the rest of the trip as Patrick May, despite having an eight-kilogram weight advantage, faded late on while the surging Gadfly ($11) couldn't make up enough ground.
Lunn's hope went on to win by three-quarters-of-a-length from Gadfly while The Long Run was third.
The Dubbo trainer said he still had no plans to spell his sprinter despite the starts now building up.
"I don't think he needs one because you turn him out and he might not come back as good so I'll keep him going," he said.
Classy Rebel scored just one win in 11 starts when first arriving at Lunn's stables from Victorian trainer Eric Musgrove early last year, before a 22-week spell worked wonders.
"He came back a different horse," Lunn said.
"I don't do anything different with him. Every race I just take him home and do the same thing and he keeps finding something."
Prior to Lunn taking out the feature sprint, Narromine trainer Kylie Kennedy and Wild Rocket won a thrilling edition of the $34,000 QUBE Cotton Cup (1600m).
Against much more fancied rivals, apprentice Elissa Meredith to grey gelding Silverhawk ($12) to a sizeable early lead on in the feature event.
Approaching the home turn Silverhawk had increased the margin to almost 20 lengths and supporters of the favourites were becoming very concerned about the prospects of the tearaway being run down.
Halfway down the straight Silverhawk still held a big lead with Wild Rocket, Rich And Shameless and Oakfield Captain the closest chasers and all under pressure.
Eventually, Silverhawk began to weaken and Rich And Shameless took a narrow lead with Wild Rocket, which had been last early, launching a challenge.
Carrying the 61kg top weight, Wild Rocket (Mathew Cahill, $4) won by a head from Rich And Shameless ($3.50 favourite) while Not Negotiating ($5) finishing strongly to grab third.
Jockey Mathew Cahill told connections of the winner afterwards he had doubts at the top of the straight if Wild Rocket could wear down the tearaway leader with the top weight on her back.
The latest feature win for Kennedy continued a fine run for Wild Rocket, who won the Narromine Cup and finished third in both the Coonamble Cup and Coonabarabran Cup in her past three starts.
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