The super-consistent Altiplano (NZ) (Ace High) capped a sequence of placings with a deserved breakthrough victory in the $27,500 Saddlery Warehouse MAAT Final (1550m) at Cambridge on Wednesday.

The four-year-old Pencarrow homebred went into the race as a maiden, but had been a six-time placegetter from his 12 previous starts. Wednesday’s success means he has now had 13 starts for one win, six seconds, a fourth and a fifth, earning $39,277.

Altiplano is trained by John Bell and was given a patient ride on Wednesday by George Rooke, dropping out to last in a six-horse field as a strong pace was being set in front.

Rooke allowed Altiplano to move a bit closer out wide coming up to the home turn, and he was looming ominously on the outside of the leaders at the top of the straight.

When Rooke released the brakes, Altiplano quickened sharply and burst into a clear lead, racing away to win by three and a half lengths.

“He’d had six seconds, so plenty of practice before getting it done today,” Bell said. “I think having blinkers on fired him up a little bit for this race.

“He can be a bit hard to handle – it took three of us to saddle him today – but he deserves this win and I’m really proud of him.

“Big thanks to Pencarrow and Sir Peter Vela. We’ve all had to put up with him, we’ve had some broken fingers and toes, but he’s a lovely horse and was very good today.”

Altiplano was bred by Pencarrow Thoroughbreds Ltd and is raced by Sir Peter Vela.

He is by Rich Hill Stud stallion Ace High, who is the sire of 81 winners from 129 runners. His six individual stakes winners include Molly Bloom (NZ) and She’s A Dealer (NZ) at Group One level, while She’s A Hustler (NZ) won the Group Two Zipping Classic (2400m) and finished fourth in the Group One Queen of the Turf Stakes (1600m).

The dam of Altiplano is Pencarrow homebred Atacama (NZ) (Pentire), who herself won seven races and more than $250,000 in stakes including victories in the Listed Cup Day Plate (1800m) at Flemington and the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m).

Atacama is the dam of two winners from two foals to race, with Altiplano’s older half-sister Copiapino (NZ) (Medaglia d’Oro) recording a victory from a brief four-race career.

Atacama is a half-sister to the Group Three Manawatu Classic (2000m) runner-up and Group One New Zealand Derby (2400m) fourth placegetter Beaumarchais (NZ) (Savabeel).