But after a win at Alexandra Park on Friday evening he has no regrets about missing the much richer Sires’ Stakes Final at Addington on Tuesday.
Cyclone rebel (Gambler’s delight) qualified for the final by winning his heat at Alexandra Park on debut, no small feat in itself that suggested he was a bright young pacer.
Hopkins was planning to take him to Addiington until he finished only third in a moderate race at Alexandra Park last week, not exactly the kind of form that inspires you to spend thousands of money to get into Group 1 to clash with Jumal.
“We thought about it, but last week my confidence took a hit,” says Hopkins.
“In retrospect, that shouldn’t have been the case, because it was probably a trainer’s error.
“He won his test so well the week before. I didn’t think he needed much more so I think I was too easy on him leading up to last week.
“But he was fitter tonight and that looked a lot more like it.”
CYCLONE REBEL REPEAT
But despite Cyclone Rebel taking two wins in just four starts, Hopkins says he will watch Group 1 for the babies at Addington on Tuesday feeling he has done the right thing.
“When you look at horses like Jumal, who have had that extra racing and are clearly very good, you realize how difficult it would be there, especially now that he has pulled barrier three.
“We could have gone there and maybe collapsed early in his career, whereas he got a confidence-boosting win tonight.”
Hopkins says the logical final target for the season for Cyclone Rebel is the Golden Gait Finals at Alexandra Park on December 19.
“I’m sure he’s qualified now with four starts here, but it doesn’t matter because he’ll need at least one more race here before he goes there.
“I know the stakes have been lowered to $50,000, but it’s still $50,000 at your home track, so we’re happy to have that as a target and then he’ll have plenty of good three-year-old races that he can focus on next season and that we think he can be competitive in.”
Another impressive two-year-old winner on Friday evening was debutant Nazare, who justified his heavy favoritism by winning at a 1:57.4 mile pace with a smooth 26.6 seconds in the final 400 meters.
He is one of fourteen two-year-olds that Arna Donnelly has in work and has assessed a horse that will make an even better three-year-old, with the Cambridge trainer realistic about the fact that she may run out of races to qualify him for the Golden Gang.
And in one of the more unusual trotting doubles at Alexandra Park in recent years, driver Joshua Dickie rode a winner for his father John who trained Paramount Spur and a winner for his fiancée Sammy Kilgour who trained Loteria later in the programme.
For full race results, click here.
Through Michael Guerinfor Harness Racing New Zealand
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