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Rapid improver Renegade Rebel (NZ) (El Roca) jumped from maiden ranks to black-type company at Ellerslie on Sunday and led every step of the way in the $100,000 Listed Gingernuts Salver (2100m).

The three-year-old feature was the second win of a promising four-start career for Renegade Rebel, who was bought for $40,000 from the Book 2 draft of Westbury Stud at Karaka 2022. The gelding has now earned $77,250 in stakes for his six owners.

Renegade Rebel ran last in his only start as a two-year-old last season, but he has come back much bigger and better at three. He finished a close second in his first-up run over 1400 metres, then stepped up to 1600 metres and worked hard in front but held on gamely to score a tenacious maiden win.

Renegade Rebel adopted similar tactics again in Sunday's Salver and delivered a repeat result. He dictated terms out in front, then upped the ante coming up to the home turn. The challengers lined up to try to reel him in down the straight, but Renegade Rebel fought them off and won by a length.

"Top run," jockey Matt Cameron said. "He got a nice, soft lead in the first half of the race and then quickened nicely. He was too good for them."

Renegade Rebel became the second black-type winner for Matamata trainer Cody Cole.

"This is just a great feeling," Cole said. "The horse was able to have quite a soft time out in front today. Matt Cameron is really good at riding those sorts of races, and he just let the horse do his own thing.

"This horse has just kept improving. He joined our stable after winning a trial in the early spring, and this was only his third race for us. We're sort of trying to figure him out as we go. But he was really tough in his maiden win last start, and it was another good, tough win today."