A winner of the $30,000 Starmaker Plate at Muswellbrook and second in the $500,000 Inglis Nursery behind Irish Bet last year, Ragged Rascal (image Steve Hart) fell short in the autumn when contesting the better races and had not been seen since beating one runner home in the Group I ATC Champagne Stakes.
Tuned up with four recent trials, Ragged Rascal was certainly fit for his return in this 1100 metre sprint and powered home late under Jay Ford to go straight past classy Epaulette filly Meryl to win by a length and a half with Zoustar colt Charge a gallant third.
"He trialled well the other day so I was keen to come here today and see how he could go," said Jay Ford.
"He's shown glimpses of good ability before and he's shown it here again today.
"He appreciates being ridden quietly and there was good speed in the race. It's onwards and upwards for him."
Ragged Rascal runs for Steve and Louise Gillard in partnership with Paul Perry and has the overall record of two wins and two placings from nine starts with prizemoney in excess of $230,000.
Ragged Rascal was bred by Pedrille Thoroughbreds and is the first winner for stakes-winning Al Maher mare M'Lady Pedrille, a full sister to Group I winner Diamond Pedrille and half-sister to stakes-winner Madame Pedrille.
The Pedrille family has become most notable in recent times for producing Yarraman
Park's super sire I Am Invincible, so Ragged Rascal has plenty of pedigree
behind him!M'Lady Pedrille has already foaled this spring producing a colt by Darley's young Invincible Spirit shuttler Territories (IRE).
Ragged Rascal is the tenth stakes-winner for Lonhro's Group I son Denman, who stands at a fee of $8,800.
He is the second new stakes-winner in the past two days for Denman, whose US bred three year-old son Angaston won the $250,000 Franklin Simpson Stakes at Kentucky Downs.
Angaston has an imposing record with five wins and five placings from 13 starts and is the first North American stakes-winner for Denman, who shuttled briefly to Kentucky for Darley.
