The Pencarrow bred Spinning Dancer notched up a hard fought and professional debut victory yesterday at Avondale in a $7,000 Maiden 3YO race over 1200 metres.

Trained by Bruce Wallace, Spinning Dancer (Commands x Annie Daly) had five trials coming into his race debut – winning one and placing in a further three.

There was plenty to like about his debut win. Jumping from barrier 11, the three-year-old was forced to settle three wide for the trip and produced a late turn-of-foot to run down race leader Lucky Orphan (Gold Centre) to win by a half-head.

“He’s a genuine horse,” commented Bruce Wallace. “He’s a very laid back horse and we have taken our time with him and he has made a good start.

“He showed some ability in his trials and we were very close to running him as a two-year-old but we decided to wait. He is raced by Hong Kong based Able International and they have been great supporters for us.

“Though the horse is Hong Kong owned, he will be doing his three-year-old racing in New Zealand and we will see how he progresses in his next couple of races before we look to some bigger targets.”

Yesterday’s win came on dead 6 footing and the gelding has performed on most surfaces, winning a trial on heavy ground and placing in trials on good and slow tracks.

Bred by Peter and Philip Vela, Spinning Dancer was purchased by Wallace Thoroughbreds from Pencarrow Stud at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2011 Karaka Premier Sale for $230,000.

A well-bred colt, Spinning Dancer is out of the Irish bred Spinning World mare Annie Daly, a three-quarter sister to the stakes winner Thady Quill (Nureyev) and a half-sister to stakes winners Humble Eight (Seattle Battle), April Starlight (Storm Bird) and Royal Devotion (Sadler's Wells).

Annie Daly produced a sister to Spinning Dancer on 15 September and will be served by Darci Brahma this season.