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By Ray Hickson

There’s something about Rebel Shadow that has trainer Gary Portelli excited to see if the lightly raced three-year-old can back up a narrow but gutsy last start win when he steps up in class in the 1st Justify Yearlings Handicap (1300m) at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

Trainer Gary Portelli (Pic: Bradley Photos).

Given the context, Portelli wouldn’t have been happier with the gelding’s breakthrough win at Canterbury last month if he’d won by four lengths pulling up.

He won by a head but it was what he overcame to secure victory that told the trainer he has a horse with some ticker and a will to win.

“The other day was a pretty good win, he got held up at a stage where he was about to go through his gears,’’ he said.

“Had he got clear at the top of the straight he probably wins by a margin.

“The fact he was held up and was able to get up off the canvas and still win just gave me that bit more confidence that there’s something about him.

“Good horses can pick themselves up, that’s what encourages me to think we might have a handy one going forward.”

Rebel Shadow, $5.50 with TAB on Tuesday, is a son of Portelli’s former dual Group 1 winning sprinter Rebel Dane and that there was a touch of déjà vu for the trainer in that Canterbury win.

It cast his mind back to a three-year-old race in the spring of 2012. Coincidentally, Jason Collett rode Rebel Dane to that win and has partnered Rebel Shadow in all four starts to date.

“His dad did the same thing one day when he won at Rosehill, he had a big weight and was stopped about the 250m but regrouped and won strongly through the line and that’s something you don’t see very often,” he said.

“He’s a work in progress, his father didn’t come good until about the same time at three. He’s got something there. We’re looking forward to seeing how he comes out of it into his next start.”

Whatever conditions prevail at Warwick Farm don’t concern Portelli, Rebel Shadow’s past three starts have come on heavy ground and he’s not fussed if there isn’t an opportunity to prove himself on top of the ground just yet.

He said while he’ll have 60kg to contend with he feels he has the potential to climb the ranks in the second half of the season.

“He’s drawn well, I think the distance won’t be an issue,’’ he said.

“He’s come through that run well, I’m looking forward to seeing where we end up on Wednesday. It’ll answer a few questions for what we might be looking for going into the autumn.

“When I know they can handle certain conditions I’d be happy to see a heavy track again. I’m not out to prove anything I just want to win.”

Portelli produces another of the Rebel Dane offspring when two-year-old Fireburn makes her debut in the Harry Angel @ Darley Plate (1100m).

The filly has trialled twice over short distances and he said she’ll be ridden cold as she was in both practice hitouts.

“She’s going to be one that will be hitting the line,’’ he said.

Rebel Shadow wins at Canterbury on November 26

“We aimed at this race when it was 1200m but it was changed to 1100m, I’m sure she will run well but she’s a prep away.”

Meanwhile, Golden Gift winner Sejardan returns to Portelli’s stable on Monday to be aimed at two rich two-year-old races in the new year.

The unbeaten colt is the $9 second favourite with TAB for the $5 million Longines Golden Slipper in March but he’ll first be eyeing the $2 million Inglis Millennium (1100m) on February 5.

“I saw him on Sunday at the farm, in the just three or four weeks he’s had off he’s physically developed so much already,’’ he said.

All the fields, form and replays for Wednesday's Warwick Farm meeting