Where only perfection will do.

05 Sep 2024

An impressive performance by Private Life (Written Tycoon) at Warwick Farm on Wednesday has put the classy colt on a path towards bigger and better spring targets for part-owner Sir Peter Vela.

The Chris Waller-trained Private Life made a big impression at the trials as an autumn two-year-old and was sent out as favourite for his raceday debut on May 1, finishing fourth at Canterbury. He took a big step forward and cleared maiden ranks in style in his second start three weeks later at Warwick Farm.

A more mature Private Life stepped out for his three-year-old debut on Wednesday and made it a winning one, despite carrying a testing topweight of 61.5 kilograms.

04 Sep 2024

Quality mare Pearl Of Alsace is back on track to open her spring campaign ahead of a later than originally anticipated involvement in the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival.

Tavistock’s daughter will resume on Saturday in the Harcourts Bream Bay (1400m) at Ruakaka where stablemate and Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) hopeful Mahrajaan will also be in action in the Harcourts Tai Tokerau Cup (2200m).

The Sir Peter Vela-bred and raced Pearl Of Alsace failed to trial to the satisfaction of trainers Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray at Taupo last month, but they have been encouraged by her subsequent progress.

15 Aug 2024

Pencarrow Stud’s foundation mare, Romanee Conti (Sir Tristram-Richebourg, by Vice Regal), was immortalised with a sculpture created by New Zealand artist Michelle Farrell. The story of Romanee Conti begins in 1982 when the Vela brothers went to the Wrightson Bloodstock yearling sale and purchased a yearling filly from Chequers Stud. Full story as featured in Bluebloods, August 2024

12 Aug 2024

Pencarrow’s broodmare marvel Huluava (NZ) (Pins) was credited with her third winner within the space of just six days when Branciforti (NZ) (Belardo) took out the inaugural $100,000 Martin Collins PolyTrack Innovation Race (1400m) at Awapuni on Friday.

“It’s a really, really under-rated family and it just keeps on keeping on,” Pencarrow manager Leon Casey commented this week. “Huluava was very lightly raced and talented, we did take her to Brisbane as a three-year-old but she pulled up sore.