Victoria Derby winner Rebel Raider has landed the visitors' gate for Saturday's Hobartville Stakes but that hasn't dented trainer Leon Macdonald's confidence.The Adelaide-based Macdonald won the 2008 Hobartville with Serious Speed and has an impressive strike rate when he brings horses to Sydney.The Group Two Hobartville (1400m) attracted 17 acceptors with just 13 to run because of the rail placement at six metres and Rebel Raider has the outside draw with Derby-winning jockey Clare Lindop to ri
Victoria Derby winner Rebel Raider has landed the visitors' gate for Saturday's Hobartville Stakes but that hasn't dented trainer Leon Macdonald's confidence.
The Adelaide-based Macdonald won the 2008 Hobartville with Serious Speed and has an impressive strike rate when he brings horses to Sydney.
The Group Two Hobartville (1400m) attracted 17 acceptors with just 13 to run because of the rail placement at six metres and Rebel Raider has the outside draw with Derby-winning jockey Clare Lindop to ride.
"With a horse like him I'm not so sure the barrier makes it more difficult because he is adaptable but I'd rather not have got the visitors' draw," Macdonald said.
"But it may be a lot better than being on the fence.
"I'll discuss it with Clare. I don't give her instructions, we have discussions and she knows the horse pretty well so she will be able to work it out.
"He drew the outside in the Victoria Derby and that went okay."
Lindop has picked up rides for David Payne and Michael Clout in early races on the program so will be able to get her bearings at Rosehill.
She has also scored the mount on Dandaad for Bart Cummings for whom she rode Moatize to sixth in the Melbourne Cup.
At his first start since his Victoria Derby triumph, Rebel Raider worked home well for fifth to Hobartville rival Mic Mac at Moonee Valley on February 14 after getting held up for a run rounding the home turn.
That effort pleased Macdonald and he is more than happy with how Rebel Raider has settled in to his temporary home at Randwick.
"He travelled very well, he has settled in very well and he will run very well," Macdonald said.
"But 1400 metres is as short as he wants it."
In first markets for the Hobartville, TAB Sportsbet posted Youthful Jack as $3 favourite ahead of Desuetude at $4 and Mic Mac at $4.80 with Rebel Raider a $26 chance.
Although Macdonald is unsure how Rebel Raider will measure up against the in-form Youthful Jack he believes his colt can certainly turn the tables on Mic Mac.
"We meet Mic Mac four kilos better than last time and he has to step up to another level," he said.
The Greg Eurell-trained Mic Mac has won all four of his races but Saturday's race is his biggest test yet.
He carried 55.5kg at Moonee Valley while Rebel Raider was forced to lump 59.5kg with the Hobartville at set weights.
Rebel Raider will go through the Classic program in Sydney of the Randwick Guineas (1600m), Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and the AJC Australian Derby (2400m) on April 11.
The first horse Macdonald ever brought to Sydney was Gold Guru who beat Might And Power in the 1998 Ranvet Stakes before the champion turned the tables in The BMW.
Gold Guru then went on to beat another of the local favourites when he relegated Tie The Knot to second in the Derby.