Pencarrow Stud’s colours were carried to a tough victory in Australia yesterday with Irion (Danroad x Dopff) breaking maidens at her third start in the A$25,000 Isuzu Trucks Maiden Plate (1300m) at Geelong.

Prepared in Melbourne by leading trainer Mark Kavanagh, Irion was narrowly beaten on debut at Geelong late last year before returning from a spell with a sound third earlier this month at Sandown.

Accomplished jockey Glen Boss was aboard Irion at her last start and retained the ride for yesterday’s victory. Starting from barrier 9, the daughter of Danroad was caught three-wide without cover heading out of the back straight. Boss accepted his position and allowed Irion to travel comfortably into the straight before asking for an effort.

Irion appeared to be headed in the run to the post by Dillon Hall (Dylan Thomas) but fought back gamely to hit the front in the dying stages and claim a tough win by a neck.

“She is a nice filly who has taken a bit of time,” commented Kavanagh. “There is a lot of improvement in her and her quality was shown when she was headed and she fought back.

“At this stage, she will go through the grades. Hopefully she will graduate to a metropolitan race next start and we see where she takes us in the next few weeks.

“I don’t have any doubts that she will be looking for 1600m, maybe even 2000m later on.”

Sir Peter Vela owns Irion having purchased the filly for $130,000 from her breeders Highview Stud at the 2012 Karaka Premier Sale, the highest price paid for a filly by Danroad at auction and the third highest price paid for any progeny of the sire.

Irion is out of Group 2 winning mare Dopff (Tights), a half-sister to Group 2 winner Rizon (Zabeel) and dual Group 3 winner Ready to Lift (More Than Ready). Irion is a half-sister to the Group 1 placed mare Octapussy (Octagonal), the dam of Group 2 winner Pussy Willow (O’Reilly) and Listed winner Pussy O’Reilly (O’Reilly). Irion is also a half-sister to the dam of Group 3 winner Valpolicella (Red Ransom), the dam of this season’s dual Group winner Vilanova (Commands).