Improved track conditions made a world of difference for Pencarrow mare Harmonious (NZ) (Turn Me Loose), who scored the first win of her career in Saturday’s $15,000 Gyde Design Cabinetmakers Maiden (1600m) at Hawera.

Trained by Adrian Bull at Hunterville, Harmonious began her career with three unplaced starts on heavy ground during the winter.

The four-year-old stepped out on an improved Soft6 surface on Saturday, and after settling in a close fifth for most of the journey, she was poised to pounce at the top of the home straight.

Rider Lily Sutherland pushed the button and Harmonious went into full flight, running over the top of Beersheba (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu) and What A Charma (NZ) (Jimmy Choux) for a narrow but impressive win.

Bred by Pencarrow Thoroughbreds and raced by Sir Peter Vela, Harmonious has now had four starts for one win, earning $9,120 in stakes.

Harmonious is by Turn Me Loose (NZ), who himself is a son of Pencarrow mare Indomitable (NZ) (Danehill). An outstanding racehorse who won at Group One level in New Zealand and Melbourne, Turn Me Loose has sired 30 winners to date from his first two crops. Lickety Split (NZ) was a Group One winner as a two-year-old last season and has won at Group Two level in Melbourne this spring, while Prix De Turn (NZ) and Alabama Gold (NZ) have also been Group winners.

The dam of Harmonious is Huluava (NZ) (Pins), who has now produced eight winners from eight foals to race. The best-performed of those is William Wallace (NZ) (Darci Brahma), who has won eight races including two at Listed level.

Huluava is a half-sister to two stakes performers. Hasselhoof (NZ) (Tavistock) won the Group Two Rich Hill Mile (1600m) and placed in the Group One Livamol Classic (2040m), while Vercors (NZ) (Catbid) won the Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). Vercors is herself the dam of the stakes-placed Vichy (NZ) (Cape Blanco).

Harmonious was the second-to-last foal produced by Huluava, who had a filly by Belardo the following spring.