The Pencarrow bred filly Brela Belle continued Darci Brahma’s hot run at stud with a fighting victory in the $12,500 Artistic 1200 at Ellerslie on Saturday after three months away from the track.

Ridden by Masa Tanaka for trainer Frank Ritchie, Brela Belle (Darci Brahma x Christiania Belle) settled one off the rail in fifth place in transit and produced a bold run in the straight, holding off the fast finishing Sand'ior (Scaredee Cat) to win by half a head at the post.

Having had just five career starts to date, the three-year-old has only finished out of the placings on one occasion. She debuted in second place, then broke her maiden at her second start at Tauranga last year before running third to the impressive Rose of Falkirk (Falkirk) at Ellerslie in October.

Given a break from the track, the filly had one start at Ellerslie in December before being spelled and resuming successfully on the weekend after a three month break.

Brela Belle is the last foal from the Pencarrow bred Group 2 winning mare Christiania Belle (Sackford), and is a half-sister to the Group 3 winner Zino Belle (Success Express).

Brela Belle was one of three weekend winners for her sire Darci Brahma who was also bred by Peter and Philip Vela.

A five-time Group 1 winner, Darci Brahma saw his son Super Easy take his unbeaten winning streak to eight in Singapore on Friday in the Sgp-3 3YO Sprint at Kranji. Meanwhile at Awapuni on Saturday, he claimed his fourth stakes winner with Malandrino producing a stunning performance in the Group 3 Manawatu Classic.

Darci Brahma sired his first Group 1 winner two weeks ago with Artistic winning the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks and is currently New Zealand’s leading sire for three-year-old winners in New Zealand this season with 17, three clear of O’Reilly on 14.