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Trainer’s thumbs up ahead of first $100,000 final

A leading local trainer has endorsed TRSA’s 2020 TAB Spring Bonanza initiative ahead of the first of seven $100,000 finals this weekend.

To be run over 1200m at Morphettville on Saturday, the Rebel Raider Series final is a benchmark 75 event for three-year-olds.

The TAB Spring Bonanza comprises seven specialty series, run over varying distances and culminating in $100,000 finals – held between October and December – at Morphettville.

Horses must compete in at least one heat to be eligible for the final of that respective series, with points allocated for each race.

Father-and-daughter training combination Richard and Chantelle Jolly prepared Schilldora to win the inaugural Rebel Raider Series final in 2018, and Richard said the series was a worthwhile addition to the local racing calendar.

“I think it’s a pretty popular initiative, not just for this Saturday’s race, but the whole lot of the series,” he said.

“It gives our horses over here a chance to win a decent race.

“There’s a carrot at the end of it, with decent prizemoney for horses that wouldn’t normally run for that kind of money, so it’s a good incentive.”

Richard noted the Rebel Raider series had already unearthed some more-than-handy horses in its short history.

“Schilldora was a handy mare for us, and she actually beat Gytrash the day she won the series final – he ran in it as a three-year-old,” he said.

“And Xilong won it last year, beating Garner and Jacobite Prince. So, it can certainly turn up some good three-year-olds.”

Richard expects this weekend’s renewal to reinforce the strength of the Rebel Raider series.

“Saturday’s race has some good quality horses that probably would measure up in better races,” he said.

“Tony (McEvoy’s) has already won a race in Melbourne, Leon (Macdonald’s) has won a group race and has been placed in Melbourne. Plus my horse is only lightly raced, having his fifth start, and he’s two out of four – and that’s not mentioning a few of the others.

“It’s going to be a hot little race.”

Meanwhile Schilldora was retired earlier this year and sold in an online auction. She won her final race start, at Morphettville.

 

2020 TAB Spring Bonanza finals:

Saturday, October 17: $100,000 Rebel Raider Series (3YO BM 75) 1200m

Saturday, October 24: $100,000 Viddora Series (Mares BM 76) 1300m

Saturday, October 31: $100,000 Riziz Sprint Series (BM 75) 1100m

Tuesday, November 3: $100,000 Skybeau Stayers Series (BM 76) 2500m

Saturday, November 7: $100,000 Happy Trails Series (BM 75) 1400m

Friday, December 18: $100,000 Alcopop Series (BM 75) 1600m

Saturday, December 26: $100,000 Southern Speed Series (BM 75) 2000m

 

Points for each race in the series

Points for each race in each series will be allocated on the following basis:

1st 10 points; 2nd 5 points; 3rd 3 points; 4th 2 points. All other starters will receive 1 point.

 

IMAGE: Schilldora after winning at Morphettville.

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