The famous blue and white silks of Pencarrow Stud were carried to victory in the United Kingdom yesterday with Ermine Ruby (Cape Cross x Ruby Rocket) triumphant in the Racing Specials at 32redsport.com Handicap (7f) at Lingfield.

The three-year-old filly is owned by Sir Peter Vela and the Hon. Mrs P Stanley of New England Stud. Sir Peter and Philip Vela bred the filly in association with New England Stud, the same connections bred Group 1 winning sprinter Maarek (Pivotal x Ruby Rocket), Ermine Ruby’s half-brother.

Starting as the race-favourite, Ermine Ruby broke her maiden by 1.3 lengths for trainer Charles Hills over 7 furlongs – which is equivalent to 1400m. The daughter of Cape Cross landed her first victory at her fourth raceday appearance for rider Martin Harley.

It was the second winner within a week for Sir Peter Vela in the United Kingdom with Mary McPhee (Makfi x Aunty Mary) winning on Friday at Warwick, also trained by Charles Hills.

Ermine Ruby’s dam Ruby Rocket (Indian Rocket) was a dual Listed winning sprinter and all three of her foals to race have been winners, the best of them being Maarek. Ruby Rocket is a half-sister to two Listed winners – Inzar’s Best (Inzar), a stakes winner in Germany, and Alexander Alliance (Danetime), a stakes winner in Ireland.

The sire of Ermine Ruby is Cape Cross, a stallion well-known in New Zealand having shuttled to Cambridge Stud with his best progeny in New Zealand being former Horse of the Year Seachange.