News

15 May 2026

The A$60,000 Kia Western Region Dealer of the Year Handicap (1800m) was the second win of a five-start career for Chispa, who has finished second, third and fourth in her other three appearances. She has earned A$63,700 in stakes for her owner and breeder Sir Peter Vela.

Trainer Chris Waller has nominated Chispa for the Group One Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm on June 6, and Wednesday’s performance more than justified continuing in that direction.

Chispa was ridden by James McDonald.

07 May 2026

With a seven-figure price tag and superb bloodlines, exciting prospect Condone (Justify) opened his winning account at Warwick Farm on Wednesday for a Coolmore syndicate that includes Pencarrow principal Sir Peter Vela.

30 Apr 2026

More than three months after starting her career with a pair of promising summer placings, Pencarrow filly Biding My Time (NZ) (Circus Maximus) made a bold return to racing in the $25,000 Trackside.co.nz 1200 at Ellerslie on Monday.

The David Greene-trained three-year-old made her debut with a second at Taupo on December 28, then filled the same placing again at Te Rapa on January 16.

13 Apr 2026

The Pencarrow brand was carried to victory in one of the South Island’s richest races when Toa Haka (NZ) (Iffraaj) took out the $350,000 TAB Southern Alps Challenge (1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday.

Toa Haka was bred by Pencarrow Thoroughbreds Ltd and offered in the Pencarrow draft in Book 1 of Karaka 2021, where he was bought by Greene Racing for $40,000

13 Apr 2026

Wailea (NZ) (Darci Brahma) got within a nose of victory when she visited Waverley for her last start on March 18, and a return to the same venue on Friday marked another big step forward for the fast-improving filly.

The Pencarrow homebred began her career in Victoria. Back in her homeland and now a member of Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie’s Matamata stable, the three-year-old made her New Zealand debut with a big run for second in a photo finish at Waverley last month.

02 Mar 2026

A career-best season for Pencarrow gelding Sunset Boulevard (NZ) (Eminent) continued in the $50,000 JR & N Berkett (2100m) at Trentham on Sunday.

The open handicap was the ninth win of a 23-start career for Sunset Boulevard, who has placed on another four occasions and has earned $233,555.

23 Feb 2026

While Pencarrow principal Sir Peter Vela has been part-owner of countless Chris Waller-trained winners up to Group One level, the maiden victory by Chispa (NZ) (Savabeel) in the A$42,000 The Man Walk Australia Maiden Plate (1300m) at Kembla Grange last week was something a little different.

Unlike all those previous wins that were shared with Coolmore syndicates, Chispa races in the blue and white hooped colours of Pencarrow and has Sir Peter Vela listed as the sole owner. The three-year-old filly was bred by Pencarrow Thoroughbreds.

23 Feb 2026

Pencarrow mare Sesimbra (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) led all the way for an impressive victory in the $18,500 Water Services NZ Taupo (1100m) at Taupo on Sunday.

Ridden by apprentice jockey Jack Taplin for trainers Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie, the four-year-old broke well from gate two and charged forward to take the lead inside the first 100 metres.

17 Feb 2026

Lightly raced Pencarrow mare Sattriya (NZ) (Super Seth) scored a lucrative maiden win at New Plymouth on Friday, taking out the $25,000 Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1400m) along with its $20,000 Pearl Series bonus for the winner.

Sattriya is trained locally at New Plymouth by Allan Sharrock and had shown promising signs in her first two starts. It was third time lucky on Friday as Sattriya produced an even more powerful come-from-behind performance.

Sattriya blew past her opposition in the final 200 metres, charging into the lead and racing away to win by two and a quarter lengths.

04 Feb 2026

The Book 1 and Book 2 sessions of NZB’s 100^th National Yearling Sale at Karaka were a successful few days for Pencarrow Stud.

Pencarrow offered 22 horses across Sunday, Monday and Tuesday and sold 20 of them for a clearance rate of 91%.

The horses sold for a total of $2.97m and an average price of $148,250, including a Book 1 aggregate of $2.71 million and average of $169,375.

20 Jan 2026

Pencarrow Stud’s quality draft for Karaka 2026 has been boosted by a series of pedigree updates over the last few weeks.
The most significant updates are for Lot 465, the colt by U S Navy Flag out of Group One-winning mare Guiseppina (NZ) (Johar).
Karaka 2026 will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from January 25 to 29, with Book 1 on January 25 and 26, Book 2 on January 27 and the new Karaka Summer Sale on January 29.

13 Jan 2026

Group One glory in Australia last season was the latest chapter in a long success story for Pencarrow Stud at New Zealand’s National Yearling Sale – one that spans about a third of the sale’s 100-year history.

The quality of those Pencarrow bloodlines was quickly recognised by the buyers’ bench at Karaka. The stud made its first impact in 1992 with a third placing on the list of leading vendors by average. Pencarrow went on to be the leading vendor by average in 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Pencarrow Stud has 18 yearlings in the catalogue for Book 1 and six in Book 2 for the 100^th edition of the NZB National Yearling Sale.

08 Jan 2026

Beautifully bred Pencarrow gelding Sarti (NZ) (Snitzel) launched his racing career in style on Thursday with an impressive come-from-behind victory in the $25,000 Keith Stringer Maiden (1200m) at Tauranga.

Sarti showed an explosive turn of foot and powered past six rivals in the straight, hitting the front less than 30 metres from the finish but pulling away to be almost a length in front at the line.

Pencarrow Stud will offer a half-brother to Sarti and Tavi Time during Karaka 2026 later this month. The colt by US Navy Flag out of Guiseppina will go through the ring as Lot 465 in Book 1.

05 Jan 2026

A breakthrough season for Pencarrow’s Sunset Boulevard (NZ) (Eminent) continued on Sunday with his third consecutive win, this time in the $40,000 Recreation Hotel Greymouth Cup (2000m).

After beginning the season with four wins to his name from a 14-race career, the gelding has added another four victories from only six starts as a five-year-old.

04 Jan 2026

Pencarrow mare Bonifleur (NZ) (Burgundy) added a third win to her record with a hard-fought victory in the $18,500 New World Mount Maunganui (1400m) at Tauranga on Friday.

Now a winner at the ages of three, four and five, Bonifleur has had 15 starts for three wins, three placings and $51,275 in stakes. She is trained by Paul Richards at Matamata.

30 Dec 2025

Last season’s Group One winners Feroce (NZ) (Super Seth) and Maison Louis (NZ) (Super Seth) added their names to a long list of top-class colts and geldings carrying the Pencarrow Stud brand, and buyers will have exclusive access to another beautifully bred crop of colts during Karaka 2026.

Pencarrow will offer a total of 18 colts at New Zealand’s 100^th National Yearling Sale, with 13 in Book 1 and five in Book 2.

27 Dec 2025

The Kris Lees-trained Tavi Time recorded the first black-type win of his career in the A$250,000 Group Three Summer Cup (2000m) at Randwick on Boxing Day 2024, and he returned 12 months later to successfully defend that title on Friday.

Pencarrow will offer a colt by U S Navy Flag out of Guiseppina as Lot 465 during Book 1 of Karaka 2026 in late January.

22 Dec 2025

Pencarrow’s blue and white hooped colours featured prominently at black-type level last season thanks to Island Life (NZ) (Vadamos), and a strong victory in Saturday’s $40,000 Barry Illsley Building and Joinery (1600m) at Trentham suggested there could be more to come this season.

Island Life has now had 12 starts for three wins, three placings and $247,850 in stakes.

08 Dec 2025

Pencarrow Stud has built up its internationally renowned bloodlines primarily by retaining, racing and breeding from generations of impeccably bred fillies. But occasionally they put a select few of them on the market, and Karaka 2026 will be one of those occasions.

Pencarrow will offer six fillies at New Zealand’s 100^th National Yearling Sale, with five in Book 1 and one in Book 2.

01 Dec 2025

Talented Pencarrow mare Fosse (NZ) (Darci Brahma) put a frustrating spring behind her with an emphatic victory in the $40,000 Kelly & Co Handicap (1600m) at Otaki on Sunday.

Fosse has now had seven starts for two wins, two placings and $57,125 in prize-money.

28 Nov 2025

Karaka 2026 will mark 100 years of the National Yearling Sale Series, and Pencarrow Stud are pleased to offer another outstanding draft of 24 yearlings for their 31st year of selling under their own banner.

Following the paths of graduates like Darci Brahma, Burgundy, Maison Louis, Tavi Time, Mehzebeen, and many more, 18 yearlings will sell across Book 1 that takes place Sunday 25 and Monday 26 January 2026, while 6 yearlings will be offered in Book 2 on Tuesday 27 January.

24 Nov 2025

A striking colt by Satono Aladdin has arrived from black-type mare Rasa Lila (NZ) (Iffraaj), wrapping up the 2025 breeding season. 41 foals - 22 colts and 19 fillies were welcomed at Pencarrow Stud's nursery.

Rasa Lila’s influence continues to shine through her current performers, with Toa Haka (NZ) (Ifraaj) in excellent form, delivering a notable double during NZ Cup Week at Riccarton. Meanwhile Sattriya (NZ) (Super Seth), a filly retained by Sir Peter Vela, made her debut last week. Despite settling well back, she produced a powerful finishing run and was narrowly beaten.

24 Nov 2025

Pencarrow trainers Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie reached a career milestone when Passiflora (NZ) (Farnan) led all the way to win Saturday’s $40,000 Happy Hire 3YO (1200m) at Wanganui.

The win brought up the pair’s 200^th training success, all of them in the blue and white hooped colours of Pencarrow Racing.

“It’s a real buzz for us to train 200 winners for Sir Peter Vela,” Ramsay said. “He and his late brother Philip have given us incredible support through our careers.”

17 Nov 2025

The first two days of the New Zealand Cup Carnival at Riccarton have produced two impressive wins for Pencarrow's Sunset Boulevard (NZ) (Eminent).

The promising five-year-old captured the $65,000 Road Metals Premier (2000m) on the opening day of the carnival last Saturday, then backed up four days later, stepped up into open class and delivered a repeat result in Wednesday’s $65,000 Wuhan Jockey Club Premier (2000m).

The Kevin Myers-trained Sunset Boulevard has now had 19 starts for seven wins, four placings and $179,055 in stakes for owner-breeder Sir Peter Vela.

Sunset Boulevard was ridden on Wednesday by Tina Comignaghi, who took up a handy position in fifth and one off the rail. The pair briefly found themselves boxed in at the top of the home straight, but Comignaghi worked her way into the clear and asked Sunset Boulevard to extend.

Sunset Boulevard warmed into his work and strode to the lead with 100 metres remaining, going on to win by three-quarters of a length.