Pencarrow filly Bonifleur (NZ) (Burgundy) made a super-impressive start to her career with a dominant debut performance in the $25,000 STE Industrial Electrical Maiden (1200m) at Tauranga on Sunday.
After two trials including a second placing at the same venue on January 16, the three-year-old lined up for her first raceday assignment on Sunday and made a big impression for trainer Paul Richards and jockey Sam Weatherley.
The team at Pencarrow Stud is celebrating an outstanding result with their high-class draft offered during Book 1 of the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka.
Of the 22 yearlings catalogued, 19 were sold for a total of $4.3m, which earned Pencarrow a fourth placing behind Waikato Stud, Cambridge Stud and Haunui Farm on the list of vendors by aggregate. Pencarrow’s average price was $226,316.
The top lot for Pencarrow’s class of 2024 was Lot 146 – a colt by Super Seth out of Irion (NZ) (Danroad). A half-brother to the Group winners Zourion (NZ) (Zoustar) and Pearl Of Alsace (NZ) (Tavistock), he was bought by Hong Kong’s Patella Bloodstock for $700,000.
Pencarrow Stud is internationally renowned for its countless stakes-performed homebred fillies and mares, most famously the mighty Melbourne Cup (3200m) and Caulfield Cup (3200m) heroine Ethereal (NZ) (Rhythm). But the respected nursery is also an outstanding source of talented colts, and buyers will have access to 19 of them among Pencarrow’s draft for Book 1 of Karaka 2024.
Since making its sale-ring debut in the late 1980s, Pencarrow rapidly grew into one of New Zealand’s most respected yearling vendors. The Pencarrow drafts have produced a long line of colts who have gone on to significant success on the racetrack and at stud.
One of the biggest success stories is Darci Brahma (NZ) (Danehill), who was bought by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis for a sale-topping $1.1m in 2004.
Pencarrow Stud is celebrating a new black-type graduate after Churchillian (NZ) (Churchill) captured the $120,000 Group Three Dixon & Dunlop Anniversary Handicap (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday.
Churchillian was bred by Pencarrow Thoroughbreds Ltd and was offered in the Pencarrow draft at Karaka 2021, where Paul Willetts bought her for $100,000. She has now had 13 starts for six wins, a placing and $196,290 in stakes.
With just three weeks until the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale commences at Karaka, Stud Manager Leon Casey and his team are busy putting the finishing touches on Pencarrow Stud’s 23-strong 2024 sale draft.
The Sir Peter Vela owner operation has developed a rich history of providing quality international and domestic performers since Sir Peter and his late brother Phillip established the Tamahere-based property over three decades ago.
Casey is justifiably excited about the wide range of youngsters the Stud will send through the auction ring this year.
Throughout the more than three decades since Sir Peter Vela founded Pencarrow Stud in partnership with his late brother Philip, the stud’s name and its recognisable ‘V in a box’ brand have become renowned as an outstanding nursery of thoroughbred talent.
The breeders of 20 individual Group One winners, the Velas boast an extraordinary record across multiple generations of their blue-blooded thoroughbred families. The brothers were named New Zealand Breeders of the Year in 2000 and 2002.
The most recent addition to that Group One list is Dunkel (NZ) (Dundeel), who was offered as part of Pencarrow Stud’s Book 1 draft at Karaka 2021.
Three-year-old Pencarrow filly Arcachon (NZ) (Pierro) hinted at a bright future with a dominant maiden victory in Thursday’s $18,500 Vale Peter McKenzie (1200m) at Otaki.
Thursday’s race was the second career start for Arcachon, who had made up late ground for an eye-catching second over 1100 metres on debut at New Plymouth on December 7. She went to a new level on Thursday, settling just behind the leaders for jockey Lisa Allpress before swooping into contention at the home turn.
Lightly raced Pencarrow mare Branciforti (NZ) (Belardo) kicked off a new campaign in spectacular style with a bold front-running win in Saturday’s $40,000 Wanganui Motors and the Dyke Family (1600m) at Wanganui.
It was the first appearance in five months for Branciforti, who had raced on the Cambridge synthetic track through the winter and picked up a win and a placing from four starts between May and July.
She faced a very different assignment at Wanganui, stepping up to a high-quality Rating 75 on a Saturday and racing on Good4 turf. Branciforti was sent out as an overlooked $20 outsider, but she ran her rivals into the ground with a spectacular all-the-way performance.
Pencarrow principal Sir Peter Vela was in the winner’s circle as both a breeder and a part-owner on Wednesday when the promising Waikato Girl (NZ) (Savabeel) took out the A$100,000 Precise Air Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill.
The three-year-old filly had finished third on debut over 1300 metres at Kembla Grange on October 28, and the step up to 1400 metres on Wednesday brought the very best out of the up-and-comer.
Ridden by Jason Collett for trainer Michael Freedman, Waikato Girl settled at the back of the six-horse field before launching an irresistible finish down the outside of the home straight to win with ease by a length and three-quarters.
With a win and a placing from her two starts, Waikato Girl has quickly banked A$51,900 for the ownership pairing of Sir Peter Vela and Gandharvi.
By Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
Flemington has been a happy hunting ground for the Vela family and they are hoping that continues on Saturday when their Group One performer Pearl Of Alsace carries their famous silks in the Gr.2 Matriarch Stakes (2000m).
Their most notable win at the Melbourne track came in 2001 when Ethereal took out the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), and more than two decades on Sir Peter Vela is hoping for another Group victory during the Melbourne Cup Carnival, and trainer Shaune Ritchie is hoping to oblige.
Pencarrow four-year-old Firriato (NZ) (Almanzor) cleared maiden ranks in style with a quality performance in Thursday’s $18,500 Entain – NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1400m) at Rotorua.
Placed in two of her six starts as a three-year-old last season, Firriato hinted that she had come back bigger and better when she kicked off her new campaign with impressive victories in both of her trials.
She brought that winning form to raceday on Thursday, winning stylishly in the hands of top jockey Opie Bosson.
After jumping evenly from gate two, Firriato slid forward to take up a handy position in fourth spot, skimming the running rail.
Pencarrow Stud celebrated a new stakes-winning graduate when lightly raced filly Star Of Justice (Justify) stepped on to the Group Three stage in style in the $100,000 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) at Ashburton on Monday.
The chestnut filly was bred by Pencarrow and sold through the Pencarrow draft in Book 1 of Karaka 2022. She caught the eye of Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis, who secured her for $190,000.
The Barneswood Farm Stakes was only the third career start for Star Of Justice, who has now recorded two highly impressive victories and earned $73,875 for her owners the Te Akau Fair & Just Racing Partnership.
Despite looking far from comfortable in the Heavy9 track conditions, Pencarrow’s rising star mare Pearl Of Alsace (NZ) (Tavistock) dug deep to collect the sixth win of her eight-start career in Friday’s $50,000 Fluid Power Distributors Mile (1600m) at Te Rapa.
At this time last year, Pearl Of Alsace was unraced. She made her debut in November and proceeded to win all of her first five races in a row, including the Group Three Cuddle Stakes (1600m) at Trentham. Her breakthrough season came to a close with an unlucky fourth in the Group One New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m).
Surrounded by daughters and granddaughters, a 26-year-old mare happily wanders the paddocks of Pencarrow Stud. The multiple Group 1-winning successful broodmare is seeing out her days in the place of her birth - a farm that was also home to her dam and her grandam - both of whom were also high achievers on and off the track.
Kristen at TTR writes:
Pencarrow Stud - one of New Zealand's steadiest sources of high-class performers. Many of who descend from just two broodmares purchased by the Vela brothers in the late 1970s and early 1980s. One of whom is the grandam of the 26-year-old mare mentioned above.
The 2022-23 racing season delivered more than 70 wins for Pencarrow Stud, highlighted by an Australian Group One triumph by star three-year-old Dunkel (NZ) (Dundeel ex Kudamm).
Trained by Patrick Payne in Victoria, Dunkel was a debut winner at Moonee Valley in October, rising to prominence in Tasmania through the summer months with brilliant come-from-behind wins in the Listed Launceston Guineas and Tasmanian Derby.
His pinnacle came in Adelaide in May, charging home from near the tail of the field to score an exceptional victory in the Group One South Australian Derby.
Pencarrow’s stellar Karaka 2021 draft of 30 yearlings has so far produced 13 winners, including three at black-type level.
On Monday 25 July Sir Peter, and members of the Vela Family, was invited to Windsor Castle as a guest of Dr Damir Kusen and Loreta Bertosa-Kusan from the Croatian Embassy in London.
During their visit, Sir Peter had the great honour of meeting Emma, the late Queen Elizabeth II’s beloved fell pony. Emma, at the grand old age of 27, is being lovingly cared for at Windsor Castle by retired stud groom Terry Pendry LVO, BEM.
Million-dollar yearling Caballus (I Am Invincible) ran record-breaking time in a smart late-season juvenile win at Randwick on Saturday, emerging as another exciting spring prospect part-owned by Pencarrow principal Sir Peter Vela.
The Chris Waller-trained colt had been a luckless eighth on debut at Canterbury earlier this month, but he made amends in style in Saturday’s A$150,000 ATC Thank You Trainers Handicap (1100m).
Three decades of high-class racehorses, exceptional broodmares and sale-topping yearlings have firmly established Pencarrow Stud as one of New Zealand’s most esteemed thoroughbred nurseries, and the latest crop of new foals are starting to arrive for the 2023 breeding season.
The latest addition to the Pencarrow dynasty and 2023 foal crop came early Tuesday morning, 25 July when NZB Filly of the Year and 1000 Guineas winner Insouciant (NZ) (Keeper) foaled a strong filly by Westbury’s Stud’s emerging sire Tarzino.
The family of Pencarrow broodmare Huluava (NZ) (Pins) has produced a Group One winner this season, and it was in the spotlight again on Wednesday through an impressive performance by Pencarrow filly Branciforti (NZ) (Belardo).
Pencarrow Stud and New Zealand Bloodstock owner Sir Peter Vela has joined a select group of non-Hong Kong residents approved as international owners permitted to have horses trained full-time in the lucrative and respected racing jurisdiction.
Sir Peter has secured Hong Kong Jockey Club membership and a racing permit, along with his daughter Petrea Vela, who herself is a former managing director of New Zealand Bloodstock and is now a board member. The third New Zealander to be given membership is Nearco Stud’s Greg Tomlinson.
Exciting two-year-old colt Congregation (Snitzel), who is part-owned by Pencarrow principal Sir Peter Vela, extended his unbeaten record to two out of two with a determined win in Saturday’s A$150,000 Tab Handicap (1300m) at Rosehill.
Stepping up from a debut victory in a midweek meeting at Canterbury on May 24, the Chris Waller-trained delivered a repeat result against a talented Saturday field and has put himself in the frame for a Group One assignment.
“He’s going to be better once the penny fully drops, and he’s still a preparation away. He’s still learning. It’s exciting to see him two from two now.
Seventh and fifth in her two previous starts, Pencarrow’s progressive three-year-old Aequus (NZ) (Iffraaj) took another step forward and cleared maiden grade at Cambridge on Wednesday.
Blue-blooded colt Congregation (Snitzel) has emerged as the latest exciting prospect part-owned by Pencarrow principal Sir Peter Vela.
The two-year-old made a winning debut in Wednesday’s A$55,000 TAB Handicap (1250m) at Canterbury Park for champion expat New Zealand trainer Chris Waller.
Pencarrow Stud is celebrating the latest in a long line of Group One graduates after Dunkel (NZ) (Dundeel) scored a spectacular come-from-behind win in Saturday’s A$500,000 Thomas Farms South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville.
Ridden by Billy Egan for respected trainer Patrick Payne, the gelding came from 13th in a 16-horse field with a powerful and sustained burst down the Morphettville straight.