Pencarrow mare Bonifleur (NZ) (Burgundy) added a third win to her record with a hard-fought victory in the $18,500 New World Mount Maunganui (1400m) at Tauranga on Friday.

Bonifleur was somewhat overlooked as a $12 outsider in the betting for the Rating 65 event, which was dominated by potential Group One New Zealand Derby (2400m) prospect Aksil (NZ) (Ace High) at $1.90. But Bonifleur upstaged that highly rated three-year-old.

Bonifleur was ridden by Craig Grylls and raced in fifth spot along the rail. While most of the field angled wide around the home turn in search of better footing, Grylls saved ground by sticking closer to the inside and Bonifleur burst through to stake her claim.

Aksil came with big bounds down the outside, and it developed into a two-horse battle to the wire, which Bonifleur dug deep to win by a head. There were four and a quarter lengths back to the third placegetter.

Now a winner at the ages of three, four and five, Bonifleur has had 15 starts for three wins, three placings and $51,275 in stakes. She is trained by Paul Richards at Matamata.

Bonifleur was bred by Pencarrow Thoroughbreds Ltd and is raced by Sir Peter Vela. She is a daughter of the late Burgundy (NZ), who himself was bred and sold by Pencarrow.

Burgundy was a $1.3m yearling purchase by David Ellis at Karaka 2010, and he won five stakes races and placed in the Group One Telegraph (1200m) before retiring to stand at Cambridge Stud. His stakes-winning progeny include Group One stars Maven Belle (NZ), Belle En Rouge (NZ) and Mercurial (NZ).

Bonifleur is one of three winners from three named foals out of her dam Arpeggio (NZ) (Tavistock), who herself won four races in the Pencarrow colours. Arpeggio is a half-sister to the Listed winner Harb (NZ) (Catbird) and the stakes-placed Cortado (NZ) (Sepoy).

Bonifleur’s second dam Macchiato (NZ) (Night Shift) is a half-sister to the stakes winner and Group One-placed Filante Etoile (NZ) (Soviet Star), while another half-sister, Cavendish Belle (NZ) (Thorn Park), is the dam of Group One-winning Burgundy mare Belle En Rouge.