Progressive Pencarrow galloper Empirical (NZ) (Eminent) recorded his second win from only a four-race career when he made a winning start to his new season in Sunday’s $17,000 Charyn – World Champion Miler (1200m) at Taupo.

Trained by Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie, Empirical had three starts last season including a maiden victory by a nose over 1600 metres at Woodville on November 2.

Ramsay and Ritchie gave him a long break after he finished sixth in a strong Ellerslie three-year-old race in January, with Sunday’s race being his first appearance for 217 days. There was no shortage of talent among his opposition, including last season’s black-type performer Belle Du Monde (Zoustar). But Empirical stood tall.

Empirical was ridden by Masa Hashizume and settled in fourth spot before angling out to the middle of the home straight and putting the two leaders in his sights. Empirical moved through his gears and outfinished the favourite Los Santos (NZ) (Tivaci) to win by a neck.

Bred by Pencarrow Thoroughbreds and raced by Sir Peter Vela, Empirical has now had four starts for two wins and $21,075 in stakes.

Empirical is a son of Sir Peter’s multiple Group winner and Group One placegetter Eminent, who stands at Brighthill Farm.

Eminent himself carried Sir Peter’s blue and white hooped colours to victory in the Group Two Prix Guillaume d’Ornano (2000m) and Group Three Craven Stakes (1600m), along with placings in the Group One Ranvet Stakes (2000m) and Irish Champion Stakes (2000m). Eminent is the sire of 52 winners from 103 runners, headed by last month’s highly impressive Listed Grafton Cup (2350m) winner King Pedro (NZ).

The dam of Empirical is Pink Bubbles (NZ) (Pins), who herself was a winner over 1200 metres and is out of a half-sister to Group One performers and sires Darci Brahma (NZ) and Burgundy (NZ).

Pink Bubbles is the dam of four winners from five foals to race, with Fat Fingers (NZ) (Sweynesse) winning on seven occasions and Cameron Falls (NZ) (Sacred Falls) being a three-race winner.

An unraced daughter of Pink Bubbles, Sparkling Rose (NZ) (Bernardini), is the dam of Group Two Eclipse Stakes (1200m) winner Too Sweet (NZ) (Satono Aladdin).