Meritaggio (NZ) (Road To Rock) completed a winning double at Matamata today for Pencarrow Stud and trainers Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie.

The combination won a maiden event earlier in the afternoon with another daughter of Road to Rock in Rock Rose (NZ) before Meritaggio stole the show with a determined front-running performance.

Rider Sam Collett had the four-year-old mare right on the speed throughout the Property Brokers 1400. She was travelling beautifully approaching the home turn and dug deep down the straight to hold on from Arzak and Gardone.

The win was the third from 16 career starts for Meritaggio, who has also recorded three seconds and five thirds.

Like Rock Rose, Meritaggio was bred and raced by Sir Peter Vela in partnership with Laurie Laxon, the New Zealand expat who is a champion trainer in Singapore.

Meritaggio is by Road to Rock out of the Montjeu mare Ruppertsberg (NZ), who is a daughter of the Group One-winning mare Clear Rose (NZ) (Deputy Governor). This makes Ruppertsberg a half-sister to the other Matamata winner Rock Rose.

Ruppertsberg is the dam of two winners from four foals to race, the other being Adolay (NZ) (Fast ‘N’ Famous) who was stakes placed in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes and fourth in the Warstep Stakes.