Winner of consecutive races at Sale and Sandown in August, Ritch Itch made his first-black type start in the Group II Bobbie Lewis Quality (1200m) at Flemington two starts ago, where he was beaten three and a half lengths in to eighth place behind Zoutori who franked that form when beaten three-quarters of a length behind the sprinting superstars Sunlight and Santa Ana Lane in the Group II Gilgai Stakes. (images Grant Courtney) .
Ritch Itch he went into Saturday a fortnight after finishing third to the promising Ian over 1100m at Flemington.
Making his first attempt at 1400 metres, Ritch Itch passed his test with flying colours, coming from midfield under Dwayne Dunn to defeat Romancer (Redwood) by half a length with Music Bay (Choisir) a length back in third.
"I've been spruiking him for a long time and I just think he'll get better,"
"If we can get him up to a mile he'll be better again. The horse is as honest as the day is long.
"I always said if I could get him to a mile I thought he would be a Group horse. It's just been trying to get him there. We had a lot of trouble with his feet.
"But he's got a turn of foot that's super."
Ritch Itch advances his record to 3 wins, 5 seconds and 2 thirds from 17 starts with earnings of $240,835.
Consigned by Rangal Park Stud to the 2017 Inglis VOBIS Gold Yearling Sale, Ritch Itch was purchased by his trainer for $60,000.
A half-brother to the Listed winner Scratchy Lass (US Ranger), he is one of four winners from five to race out of the Keltrice mare Seven Year Itch whose stakes-placed dam Love To Honor (Honor Grades) is a half-sister to Melbourne Cup and Caulfield Cup hero Viewed.
Seven Year Itch has a filly from the first crop of the Japanese superstar Maurice (JPN) and was covered by Deep Impact's dual Group 1 winner Tosen Stardom (JPN) last spring.
Rich Itch becomes the ninth stakes-winner for
