Wednesday’s Pukekohe meeting provided a reminder of the quality of Pencarrow mare Maison Roxanne (NZ) (Snitzel).

The well-related mare has always shown an abundance of talent, earning a glowing report from champion jockey James McDonald after a brilliant maiden victory in January of last year.

She hadn’t had all favours through the early part of her 2020-21 preparation, but a last-start third at Awapuni hinted at a return to top form – which she delivered in Wednesday’s $11,000 Haunui Farm (1200m).

Ridden by Samantha Collett for trainers Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie, Maison Roxanne travelled sweetly in midfield before looming on the outside at the top of the home straight. She moved through her gears and soon sprinted to the front, winning by three-quarters of a length and stopping the clock at 1:10.27 for 1200 metres.

Maison Roxanne has now had 15 starts for four wins, five placings and $46,265. The five-year-old was bred by Pencarrow and is raced by Sir Peter Vela.

A daughter of the champion Australian sire Snitzel, Maison Roxanne is out of Madame Echezeaux (NZ) (Montjeu) – a half-sister to five-time Group One winner and top sire Darci Brahma (NZ) (Danehill), plus multiple stakes winner and sire Burgundy (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) and two other black-type performers.

The dam of Madame Echezeaux is the Group One winner Grand Echezeaux (NZ) (Zabeel), a full-sister to Our Echezeaux (NZ) (Zabeel), whose six winners include three at stakes level.

Another sibling is Romanee Conti (NZ) (Sir Tristram), a big-race performer in New Zealand, Australia and Hong Kong and the dam of champion Ethereal (NZ) (Rhythm).

Madame Echezeaux is the dam of six foals to race, all of them winners. Since producing Maison Roxanne in 2015, she has had fillies by Vancouver and Vadamos in 2017 and 2018 respectively.