Racing: Making steady progress

One-time Melbourne Cup favourite Rebel Raider continues to make steady progress from an injury which derailed his spring and South Australian trainer Leon Macdonald is looking ahead to next year.

"He has recovered well and will spend another three or four weeks in the paddock," Macdonald said.

"Then he will come back to the stable and we will put him on the water walker for a month and see where we go from there. I would like to give him a light autumn but he won't be sharp enough for the Australian Cup and the 3200m of the Adelaide Cup will be too far.

There is a lot to think about but he can't stay in the paddock until June when he will begin his preparation for the Melbourne Cup."