The positives that flow from winning a Group One race were apparent to Gary Portelli as soon as they hit the line in Sunday's Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield.

The money, for one thing, the prestige and, in the case of his nondescript galloper Rebel Dane, the sense of achievement in claiming a major race with a horse that had more than a few faults.

But Portelli also revealed a downside that accompanied Rebel Dane's narrow success in the 1400m feature.

"We have a tradition among Warwick Farm trainers that you put on a breakfast at the track when you win a Group One race," Portelli said.

"Prawns, champagne, all that stuff - this'll cost me $3,000."

Portelli described Rebel Dane as "not the prettiest horse".

"He was small and weak ... I couldn't put a girth on him when he was ready to be broken in, he was too small" he said.

Careful nutrition and a special training program helped build Rebel Dane up to his present weight of around 440kg, about 60kg less than average.

None of it mattered on Sunday as jockey Glen Boss guided Rebel Dane across from his wide barrier and chose the perfect horse to follow into the race and then coaxed a perfectly-timed run that was rewarded by a short-half head victory.

Portelli confessed that when he drew wide, serious concerns had developed.

But Boss put all Portelli's concerns to rest as he legged him aboard.

"Glen just said "leave it to me"," he said.

"He's so positive ... that's why I chose him."

Boss had ridden Rebel Dane at his previous start when fourth to Speediness over 1200m at Flemington three weeks ago.

After the run he made a promise to Portelli that he kept at Caulfield.

"He said he'd learned how to win on him by getting beaten at Flemington," the trainer said.

"Glen was keen to keep the ride. He told me he wouldn't be beaten on him again."

Rebel Dane ($5.50 fav) beat Fontelina ($18) with Solzhenitsyn ($7.50) another short head away in third place.

Nash Rawiller, who rode Solzhenitsyn, said the horse would be better suited at his next start in the Group One Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield in two weeks.

Rebel Dane is likely to be freshened up for the Group One Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) on November 9, the final day of the Flemington carnival.