Making her first start since late November, Pencarrow mare Palamedes(NZ) (Pierro) fought hard to win Friday’s $10,000 1200 metre contest at Avondale.

Ridden by Ashvin Goindasamy, the five-year-old jumped well from the inside gate and took the early lead, but was passed within the first 200 metres by Holsty (NZ) (Power).

After rounding the home turn, Palamedes clawed her way back through on Holsty’s inside and made her push for victory. Holsty still had plenty to offer and tried to fight her off, but Palamedes kept coming and fought him off to win by three-quarters of a length. The 1200 metres were run in 1:10.83 on a Dead4 track.

Trained by Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie, Palamedes has now had 21 starts for three wins, seven placings and $31,125 in stakes.

She was bred by Pencarrow and is raced by Sir Peter Vela.

Palamedes is out of Papilio (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice), who herself won four races including the Listed South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m). She is the dam of two named foals, both of them winners, with Irish Butterfly (NZ) (O’Reilly) winning twice in Australia.

Papilio had a Pins colt in 2016, Tavistock filly in 2017, Tavistock colt in 2018 and Almanzor filly in 2019. She was then served by U S Navy Flag.

Papilio is a half-sister to Amaryllis (NZ) (Red Ransom), who won eight races including the Group 3 Darley Plate (1200m). Their dam is Lafleur (NZ) (Zabeel), who won the Group 2 Royal Stakes (2000m and Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic (2000m). Lafleur is the granddam of Group 1 performers Humidor (NZ) (Teofilo) and Wildflower (Keeper).