Sheza Scandal has more upside than the majority of midweek winners at Ascot.

The lightly-raced daughter of Yarradale Stud sire Scandal Keeper powered home to defeat even-money favourite Livorno Express in a blanket finish to the Magic Millions Raceday Hcp (1100m) on Wednesday.  There was less than a length between the first five past the post.

Sheza Scandal (4m Scandal Keeper – Sansu by Citidancer) had won a Northam maiden in August and trainer Dan Morton was quietly confident of a first-up victory.  “She had come on nicely since winning a barrier trial last month,” he said.  “She’s a tiger and this looked a suitable race.”

Morton admitted the mare was still slightly underdone and that suggests there’s more improvement to come this season.  Yarradale has entered her yearling half-brother by Discorsi (Lot 363) for the Perth Magic Millions.

Their dam Sansu was an Ascot winner for trainer Frank Maynard.  She has a Musket filly at foot and was bred back to Scandal Keeper in November.

Discorsi (Galileo) is a Yarradale resident and has 17 second-crop yearlings catalogued for the Magic Millions.  A Flemington stakes winner for Lee Freedman, he is a half-brother to Champion Sunspeed sire Oratorio (Aus) and Group 1 winning filly Sea Siren.

Yarradale has entered four colts and a filly by Scandal Keeper (Danzig) at the Magic Millions.  His filly from Academy Girl (Lot 207) is a half-sister to Knightlike who won the LR Towton Cup in December.

DISCORSI – SANSU COLT
Half-brother to Ascot winner Sheza Scandal entered for the Perth Magic Millions