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Former Nigel Tiley-trained three-year-old Ragnaar made an eye-catching Australian debut for Lee and Anthony Freedman when breaking maiden ranks at Bendigo on Thursday.
Ragnaar started twice as a juvenile in New Zealand and placed on both occasions, including a third to Secret Spirit in the Listed Great Northern Foal Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie in May.
The gelded son of Roc de Cambes was victorious over 1400 metres on Thursday and looks an ideal candidate to target middle distance and staying races this spring.
“I was very pleased with his effort,” Lee Freedman said. “There were certain elements of his race that didn’t go right, but he was good enough to overcome that, make up a lot of ground and win.
“The maidens at this time of year are generally pretty strong and these type of horses can keep going up the scale. I certainly think an increase in distance will suit the horse.”
Ragnaar’s next assignment is likely to be a Benchmark three-year-old race at Caulfield in a fortnight’s time, however Freedman has not ruled out a loftier goal in the near future.
“I will probably throw a sneaky entry into the Stutt Stakes, not that I really think that Moonee Valley is his type of course. But I wouldn’t mind having a look at the race because to my mind the three-year-old colts are looking a little brittle and they can’t all run in everything.”
Winning jockey Ben Melham is also excited by the Kiwi import, whose long-range target includes the Gr.1 VRC Derby on October 31.
“He’s shown a bit at home, but you just want to see them come to the races and do it, which he did,” Melham said.
“I thought it was a good win in what appeared to be a strong enough maiden on paper.
“He’s a nice staying horse, with a beautiful staying action. He’s got a bit of class about him.”
Ragnaar’s sire Roc de Cambes, who stands at The Oaks Stud in Cambridge, has enjoyed a good week across the Tasman.
He’s Our Rokkii, another stakes-placed juvenile by the stallion was impressive when winning at Benalla on Tuesday for David Hayes and Tom Dabernig and also has Derby ambitions