Pencarrow Racing celebrated the debut victory of the well-bred Silver Eclipse (Darci Brahma) at Taupo yesterday in the Lance Noble Racing Maiden Three-Year-Old over 1200m.

Trained by Pencarrow’s resident trainers Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie, the daughter of Darci Brahma began well and sat outside the leader, facing a strong breeze, for leading jockey Leith Innes. Approaching the short Taupo straight, Innes took the front on Silver Eclipse and fought off the challengers to score a hard earned victory by a short head.

The three-year-old filly was having her first start on the back of two trial wins earlier this year, and with yesterday’s win has earned $4,375 in prizemoney.

“We were pretty happy with the win because she hadn’t been off the property this time in,” commented Ramsay.

“She had two trials last season and in her second trial she ended up beating Orbity that has now won five in a row including a stakes race on the weekend.

“We thought she may have been a little bit vulnerable first-up but she did everything we asked of her and she is only going to improve with the outing.

“She parked outside the leader and Leith Innes reported back that it was really windy. She showed good fight after being headed halfway down the straight but she kicked back and wanted to keep running after the post which is pretty positive.

“We have a few options with her but we will see how she comes through this run and take it from there, we would like to try to get some black-type with her along the line somewhere.”

Bred by Peter and Philip Vela, Silver Eclipse is out of the Group 2 Gold Trail Stakes winning mare Zino Belle (Success Express), a daughter of the Group 2 Dulcie Stakes winner Christiania Belle (Sackford). This is the famous ‘Belle’ family that has left the good stakes performers Finezza Belle (Sir Tristram), Winning Belle (Zabeel) and Our Ella Belle (Encosta de Lago).

Silver Eclipse is by the five-time Group 1 winner and Pencarrow Stud graduate Darci Brahma.

Zino Belle was served last season by the unbeaten son of Zabeel and now proven sire in Reset.

Pencarrow Racing came close to another victory in the first race on the card at Taupo with Vendemiaire (Perfectly Ready) running second over 1800m, appearing to appreciate the step up in distance. Stable-mate Elysium (O’Reilly) was an unlucky runner fresh-up when finishing fourth and will take improvement into her next assignment.