Rebel Raider showed he was on track for a lucrative spring campaign with a stunning first up victory in the Group 3 Spring Stakes (1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday.  He won running away under regular rider Clare Lindop.

The five-year-old missing last year’s spring carnival through injury and has been seen since finishing fifth in the C S Hayes Memorial Cup during a shortened autumn campaign.

Lindop, who partnered the son of Darley sire Reset to G1 wins in both the Victorian and South Australia Derbies, was delighted to see one of her favourite horses back to his best.  “I was a little bit surprised,” she said.  “But I did give him a good chance when the field dropped away at acceptance time.  He’d been working well and I think he’s better now than he has been for a couple of years.”

Rebel Raider (5g Reset-Picholine by Dehere) will race next in the Penny Edition Stakes in Adelaide on August 28 or wait another week to run in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington.

A graduate of Mill Park in South Australia, Rebel Raider was purchased by trainer Leon Macdonald for $150,000 at the 2007 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.  He has won 6 of his 19 starts and earned connections over $1.39 million.

By Zabeel’s unbeaten sire son Reset, he is from G1 Flight Stakes runner-up Picholine.  She has also produced G3 Norman Robinson Stakes winner Shamoline Warrior (Shamardal).