Vintage aim for unbeaten Dr Rascal after Fraser drama

Dr Rascal will head to the Coral Vintage Stakes at the Qatar Goodwood Festival after enhancing his reputation at Ascot.

The son of Sottsass remained unbeaten with a taking victory under a penalty but not before his share of pre-race drama after jockey Kaiya Fraser was bitten by an unruly rival and unshipped from Dr Rascal’s back.

Fraser would haul himself off the turf to steer the exciting youngster to a two-and-a-quarter length success, with trainer Oliver Cole now excited to test the colt in Group Two company on the Sussex Downs.

Cole said: “He’s going for the seven-furlong Group race at Goodwood and it’s amazing really as he was the last one off the bridle at Ascot and I think if Kaiya had got going on him earlier he would have won it even easier than he did. I think he’s quite a good horse.

“We went there and we knew if he won carrying a penalty we would have to take him seriously and he did and we’re now going to give him a go in the deep end.”

It is Fraser who has been in the saddle for both of Dr Rascal’s victories to date, with last Saturday’s win part of a double for the 23-year-old who is enjoying a fine campaign in the saddle.

And although there were some nerves after Dr Rascal got loose after the peculiar pre-race incident that saw horse and jockey temporarily separated, Cole could have no complaints with the young jockey once the partnership was reunited.

Cole added: “I think we used Kaiya once when he was an apprentice but I kept getting told he was a good jockey and I’ve seen him ride a bit. He’s worked out and seems to get on well with this horse.

“For the horse to get loose like he did before the race and come back and win was good.”