PISTON REBEL WINS AGAIN AT IPSWICH

By Graham Potter | Thursday, April 23, 2026

The William Kropp trained Piston Rebel was rewarded for his all around consistency when he landed a win with some authority in a Class 1 Handicap over 1700m at Ipswich on April 23.

Prior to this run, the lightly raced four-year-old gelding had finished in the first three places in five out of his seven starts … from 1400m to 2200m … with his last start run at Eagle Farm when beaten out of the placings in a BM65 Handicap over 1800m as the $3.60 second favourite being the only real hiccup in his form-line.

The best remedy for disappointment is to bounce back quickly, and William Kropp had Piston Rebel primed to do that at Ipswich … and his followers had not backed off at all with Piston Rebel jumping as the favourite this time at $3.40.

Piston Rebel was only ordinarily away from a midfield draw and Brandon Lerena had to push him along over the first 100m before being happy to settle in sixth place, six lengths off the lead, just worse than midfield.

With the speed on, Lerena held his position going down the back straight, but then had to ride harder again approaching the home turn, and Piston Rebel responded to the rider’s urging, quickly threading a path up into fourth, then third place on straightening … and he was now in full cry.

A gap between the two runners in front of him offered Piston Rebel the opportunity to sustain his run, unimpeded. He took it and in was in front by the 200m mark.

Heroic Rebel, the $3.70 second favourite, tried to fight back, but he could not match Piston Rebel’s concentrated finishing effort (Piston Rebel remained strong to the line) … and Prestige Ice ($13) did run on late to push Heroic Rebel back into third place and get within 0.72 lengths of Piston Rebel at the line without ever seriously threatening the winner.

The merit of Piston Rebel’s win is emphasised by the fact that Prestige Ice carried 5kg less than the 60kg Piston Rebel carried in such impressive fashion in a hard run race.

Piston Rebel has now won twice in eight starts with both wins coming at Ipswich … over 1680m in his Maiden victory and over 1700m in a Class 1 in this latest victory.
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Two runs earlier at Ipswich the Matt Kropp trained Cryption’s Desire put a second successive placing on the board when finishing third in a Maiden when stepping up to 1700m, his first outing beyond the 1400m trip.

That result came on the back of a creditable runner-up finish in town at Eagle Farm over 1400m in his previous start.

The three-year-old son of Encryption is still earning his trade having only had four career starts to date.
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William Kropp also had a third placing at the Sunshine Coast the Sunday prior to the Ipswich meeting, when Our Brave Lini finished 1.75 lengths back in a Maiden Plate over 1400m.

She has finished in the first three places in three out of her last four starts (she has only run six times).