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Scantoon has graduated to city company with a determined victory at Sandown.
Trainer Grahame Begg expects a good winter campaign from Scantoon after scoring a narrow all-the-way win at Sandown.
Racing second-up from a spell, Scantoon crossed from a wide barrier to take out the Ladbroke Same Race Multi Handicap (1400m) on Wednesday.
Under Michael Dee, Scantoon was heavily supported to run the $5.50 second favourite before holding off Vainly ($8) by a short-head with Vibrant Glider ($10) 3-¾ lengths off in third place.
Although Wednesday's race was conducted on a Good4 track, Begg expects Scantoon will relish softer ground the further into a winter program he progresses, despite a first-up narrow defeat on soft ground at Cranbourne last month.
Prior Wednesday's win, two of Scantoon's previous victories had been on wet track last year.
"He's a more than useful horse," Begg said.
"He's always shown us good talent and it was a good ride today as he took luck out of the equation.
"He drew out wide and then let him roll forward and crossed them quite easily which allowed him to make all his own luck.
"He's a good determined horse and he tried very hard."
Scantoon had around eight months away from racing.
Begg explained that allowed the son of Written Tycoon extra time to mature while it also kept him away from firm summer tracks.
"We didn't think it was good to have him in over the summer months when the ground is pretty firm, so he's in at the right time of year and I'm sure there are more wins in store," Begg said.
"Today was a benchmark 70 race and he was rated 66, so he's done a good job and we'll slowly raise the bar with him now."