Malawi Rebel a lucky find for Corrigan

By Josh Spasaro

The dam of Malawi Rebel, Cinnamon Scrolls, only had one start where she was beaten by 25 lengths in last place.

Malawi Rebel was well bred in a current litter of three by Aston Rupee, which was enough for Lowood-based trainer Gerald Corrigan to purchase him.

It was a great decision. The two-year-old went on to win the Golden Chase Final last month.

With four wins from his past six starts, Malawi Rebel will bring good form into the second Lakeside Cup heat from box three at Q1 Lakeside on Thursday night.

Hobby trainer Corrigan put his shrewd acquisition down to good fortune after buying the Group 3-winning chaser from owner and breeder Paul Rudolf in New South Wales.

“I saw the dog on the internet. There were two of them for sale and I just liked the look of them,” he said.

“They were only three months old. His brother was just as quick.

“So, in the end, I’ve only got Malawi Rebel. I drove down to Sydney and picked them both up.

“A few friends have said to us, ‘How do you pick all these winners?’ It’s just luck. I buy a pup and then you just hope for the best.”

Despite her very brief track career, Cinnamon Scrolls has a respected pedigree.

By Fernando Bale, her dam Melissa’s Pride saluted on 10 occasions from 33 starts. Malawi Rebel has 11 wins.

Just one of the highlights in the career of Melissa’s Pride was a dead-heat victory in the Group 3 Summer Cup at Wentworth Park in 2016.

The dam of Melissa’s Pride, Cindeen Shelby, was a multiple Group 1-winner.

“He (Rudolf) only bred with Cinnamon Scrolls because she’s well-bred,” Corrigan said.

“If you go back down her bloodline, you’ll see. And, I thought ‘Well, you never know’.

“I rang up Paul and he told me about her. So, I said, ‘Oh, that sounds good’.”

Malawi Rebel started his career with just three wins from his first 19 starts.

Turning three in January of next year, Corrigan said his Group-winning chaser has shown rapid development from that point until today.

“He’s improved as he’s gone along. He’s actually doing everything right at the moment,” he said.

“Trialling him, we knew he could run. And, then sometimes he plays up in the boxes.

“That’s when he’s run badly. Just lately he’s been jumping well and putting in effort.”

A strong dog at just under 33kg, Corrigan said Malawi Rebel was back to full fitness after resting him the past two weeks.

And, despite his good form, he added it would be a challenge to advance to next Thursday’s Lakeside Cup Final from a strong heat.

The heat includes consistent opponents Drink Tins, Blue Blend and Zipping Kravitz.

“They’re pretty tough races. But, with a bit of luck and if he jumps and does everything right, you never know,” Corrigan said.