Flashy chestnut Battlefield confirmed trainer Paul Messara's high ranking of him and booked a start in the Ramornie Handicap at Grafton following his explosive victory in the Listed Ascot Handicap at Eagle Farm.The $130,000 Listed Ramornie Handicap (1200m) will be run on July 15.Ridden patiently by leading Sydney apprentice Daniel Ganderton, Battlefield overcame a tardy start to score his fourth win in six starts in Saturday's 1200-metre feature.The three-year-old made the quantum leap from his

Flashy chestnut Battlefield confirmed trainer Paul Messara's high ranking of him and booked a start in the Ramornie Handicap at Grafton following his explosive victory in the Listed Ascot Handicap at Eagle Farm.

The $130,000 Listed Ramornie Handicap (1200m) will be run on July 15.

Ridden patiently by leading Sydney apprentice Daniel Ganderton, Battlefield overcame a tardy start to score his fourth win in six starts in Saturday's 1200-metre feature.

The three-year-old made the quantum leap from his own age group into open company with a 1-1/4 length win over Wasted Emotions with topweight Mitanni only a short half-head away third.

Messara revealed Battlefield had exceeded all expectations since he brought him north after recording one win from his first three starts and is planning a spring assault in Melbourne with the son of Choisir.

Ganderton, who rode the gelding in his maiden victory at Warwick Farm in February, believes the sky is the limit for Battlefield.

"He did a few things wrong today but we haven't seen the best of him yet and I'm not sure how good he is going to be," Ganderton said.

"He tended to overrace in the middle stages and was a bit reluctant to go through some gaps.

"But my gut feeling is he's a Group horse and possibly a Group One horse in the spring."

Messara, who paid $200,000 for Battlefield as a yearling in Melbourne, was always confident of victory although he had some concerns early when the three-year-old missed the start slightly.

"It was an impressive win. He had winkers on for the first time and didn't get a clear run for a long time and we had planned to be out wider," Messara said.

"He's going to be a good horse next preparation and I'm planning to run him in the Ramornie on our way home.

"I'll then tip him out for a short break and get him ready for a couple of the big feature races in Melbourne during the spring.

"He's an exciting prospect and he's exceeded all our expectations up here."

Trainer Danny Williams will consider a return clash with Battlefield in the Ramornie following Wasted Emotion's game performance.

"I'll see how he pulls up but I might have a go at the Ramornie," Williams said.

"He carried 57 kilos and gave four kilos to the winner but he was beaten by a better horse on the day.

"It was game effort. I thought he was home there for a while."

Goulburn-based Williams has been coming to Queensland for the winter carnival for the past 10 years and this year brought his entire stable of nine horses north.