On the brink of a drop-back leading into tonight's assignment, Little Rascal produced a tough winning run, after missing away and in doing so strengthened his claim for a start in this year's 4yr old Emerald for the colts and geldings.
After a good run for 6th in the Taylor Mile two starts ago, the son of Panspacificflight had no luck in Field Marshall's Messenger, choking down and being pulled out of the race.
John had reported pre-race that the horse had worked up well leading into tonight's assignment, but his real concern was the stand start manners. As he has done previous, he bobbled away at the start, settling at the tailend.
With a strong tempo being set up front John waited until the backstraight to launch and he strode to the front entering the straight. Having done a power of work, he did look vulnerable in the run to the line, but fought resolutely to hold on by a neck from Risk in 3.23.9 for the 2700m.
Tonight's winning stake see's him rise a few places on the jewels leaderboard to 9th spot and he now looks a great chance to join stablemate Robbie Burns on jewels day in three weeks time.
The win tonight was Little Rascal's was his 7th from 35 starts and takes his stake-earnings to over $90,000 for his owner Ian Dobson.
Courtesy of Robert Dunn Trotting Stables