MALAWI Rebel has turned persistence into Group glory, storming home to claim the Group 3 Golden Chase Final over 520m at Q2 Parklands and deliver trainer and owner Gerald Corrigan a memorable maiden Group victory.
Lining up as the $3.30 second favourite, Malawi Rebel had to do it the hard way after Scrub’s Blue flew from the boxes and opened up an early lead.
Malawi Rebel quickly found his feet, settling into second along the rail and steadily eating into the margin as the field charged towards the final turn.
Swinging for home, Malawi Rebel moved to the outside of Scrub’s Blue, ranged alongside the leader and then powered past to take control.
Race favourite Backcreek Butch came after him, but Malawi Rebel had done the damage and held his advantage to salute as the win continues a strong record over the Q2 Parklands 520m journey, where Malawi Rebel has now recorded eight wins and six placings from 18 starts.
The Aston Rupee x Cinnamon Scrolls chaser has built an impressive career record of 10 wins and 13 placings from 32 starts, collecting over $132,000 in prize money along the way.
But for Corrigan and his kennel, this one meant a little more.
The Golden Chase was Malawi Rebel’s first victory at Group level after knocking on the door in some of Queensland’s biggest races.
He finished sixth in this year’s Group 1 Ipswich Cup Final before another crack at Group company resulted in an eighth-place finish in the Group 3 Rising Stars Final.
This time, Malawi Rebel was not just there to compete.
He was there to win and when his opportunity came around the final bend, the Rebel took it.
