Pearce Racing 3yo Southern Scandal gave his connections some anxious moments before ultimately justifying a $1.70 return when appearing first-up in the Debortoli Winemakers Hcp (1000m) at Northam on Thursday.

The raw chestnut son of I’m All The Talk settled one-out and one-back before cruising into contention behind front-runner Apache Adios (Gingerbread Man) prompting caller Darren McAullay to confirm Chris Parnham looked confident on the short-priced prospect.  But stewards reported Southern Scandal began racing greenly and ducked in half-way down the straight.  Parnham was forced to correct and then ride him out to hold out the late charge by Cassenite (Vert De Grece).

Southern Scandal was bred by Magic Millions auctioneer Grant Burns in partnership with leading vet Kim Rose and is from the penultimate crop of former Mungrup Stud and Darling View Thoroughbreds resident I’m All The Talk (Stratum).  He’s the final foal of Southern Princess (Southern Image) who won an Ascot nursery for Peters Investments.  Her half-brother Shining Knight (Blackfriars) had won a G3 Belmont Sprint and G3 Colonel Reeves Stakes in their cerise and white silks.

The best foal from Southern Princess to date has been War Chant (USA) mare Hokahey who doubled up at Doomben and in Canberra.  Second-dam dam Cool Business (Key Business) won 13 sprints in Perth to Listed level in the 2002 Bolton Sprint.

Southern Scandal was prominent on debut behind Glasgow Lass (Alabama Express) at Ascot in January and came back for late-season juvenile outings won by the Playing God pair West Star and September Born.  “He has always flashed ability in his trackwork and trials,” Pearce Racing reported following the half-length victory in the Avon Valley.  “We expected him to improve over more ground going deeper into this campaign.”