One-time Melbourne Cup favourite Rebel Raider has passed his first test since being sidelined through injury, coming through an exhibition gallop with flying colours.Trainer Leon Macdonald took the dual Derby winner to Morphettville on Saturday where he exercised with a stablemate in preparation for his comeback in the Matrice Stakes."He pulled up terrific," Macdonald said."Obviously a 1200 metre race will be too short for him but he has performed well first-up in the past."He will then go to Me

One-time Melbourne Cup favourite Rebel Raider has passed his first test since being sidelined through injury, coming through an exhibition gallop with flying colours.

Trainer Leon Macdonald took the dual Derby winner to Morphettville on Saturday where he exercised with a stablemate in preparation for his comeback in the Matrice Stakes.

"He pulled up terrific," Macdonald said.

"Obviously a 1200 metre race will be too short for him but he has performed well first-up in the past.

"He will then go to Melbourne for the Blamey Stakes and we'll decide after that whether he has another run.

"The idea is to give him a break and get him back mid to late May to begin his Melbourne Cup preparation.

"But because he is so well, we didn't want him in the paddock all through the autumn."

The four-year-old underwent surgery to remove a bone chip after he was found to be lame following trackwork a day after Cup weights were released last year.

At the time he was the equal favourite for the Cup alongside Efficient who also missed the race due to injury.

Rebel Raider's rehabilitation has been aided by the installation of South Australia's first equine water walker at Morphettville.

"It is great for the horses, it gives them a bit of a workout" Macdonald said.

"Rebel Raider has spent a lot of time on it. He went there after he galloped on Saturday."

The Listed Matrice Stakes (1200m) on Saturday attracted 13 entries with the Group Two Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington three weeks later.

There is also the option to extend Rebel Raider's campaign to three starts in the Group Three Easter Cup (2000m) on April 3.

Capecover, the $6 favourite for the Adelaide Cup on March 8 in TAB's first markets, will also be in action at Morphettville on Saturday where he will contest the Lord Reims Stakes (2600m) along with his Patrick Payne-trained stablemate Kerdem.