Barely half an hour after Bonifleur (NZ) (Burgundy) made a winning debut at Tauranga on Sunday, fellow Pencarrow three-year-old Naxos (NZ) (Harry Angel) followed suit in the very next race on the card.

Naxos kicked off his racing career on a perfect note with his hard-fought victory in the $25,000 Pure Lighting Maiden (1200m).

Fourth and third in his two appearances at the trials, Naxos went out at double-figure odds on Sunday but produced a tenacious performance in the hands of jockey Billy Jacobson.

Briefly caught four wide in an early battle for the lead, Naxos then eased back and slid across to the rail to take up a trailing position behind My Girl Candy (NZ) (Falkirk), Grand Cru (NZ) (Sacred Falls) and Market Place (NZ) (Burgundy).

Jacobson moved Naxos across heels to get to the outside of that trio at the top of the straight, and the gelding quickened strongly and charged into contention. Grand Cru fought back hard on his inside, with Letsbringthebling (NZ) (Shocking) chiming in wider out, but Naxos dug deep and scored by a long head in a tough three-horse battle.

Naxos has now had one start for one win, banking $14,375 in prize-money. He is trained by Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard at Matamata.

Bred by Pencarrow Thoroughbreds Ltd and raced by Sir Peter Vela, Naxos is by the Darley shuttle stallion Harry Angel.

Harry Angel was a five-time winner on the racetrack, headed by the Group One July Cup (1200m) and Haydock Sprint Cup (1200m). Naxos became the 109^th winner from 202 progeny of Harry Angel to have raced so far. His oldest Australian-bred progeny are three-year-olds and include the brilliant Group One Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) winner Tom Kitten.

The dam of Naxos is Sommaripa (NZ) (O’Reilly), an unraced half-sister to the six-race winner and stakes placegetter Deliciano (NZ) (Darci Brahma). The pair’s dam Santagostino (Giant’s Causeway) won the Group Two Great Northern Guineas (2100m) and is a half-sister to the Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m) heroine Vapour Trail (NZ) (Jetball).

Naxos is the first foal to race out of Sommaripa, who has subsequently produced the unraced two-year-old colt Arundel Castle (NZ) (Darci Brahma), a yearling filly by Darci Brahma (NZ), and a filly foal by Reliable Man.