Pencarrow trainers Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie reached a career milestone when Passiflora (NZ) (Farnan) led all the way to win Saturday’s $40,000 Happy Hire 3YO (1200m) at Wanganui.

The win brought up the pair’s 200^th training success, all of them in the blue and white hooped colours of Pencarrow Racing.

“It’s a real buzz for us to train 200 winners for Sir Peter Vela,” Ramsay said. “He and his late brother Philip have given us incredible support through our careers.”

There have been six Pencarrow horses that have won at least five races apiece for Ramsay and Ritchie – Rasa Lila (NZ) (Darci Brahma), Guiseppina (NZ) (Johar) and Deliciano (NZ) (Darci Brahma) with six each, and Maison Roxanne (NZ) (Snitzel), Meritaggio (NZ) (Road To Rock) and Silver Eclipse (NZ) (Darci Brahma) with five.

Passiflora is well short of that level with two, but those two victories have come from a highly promising career spanning only three starts. She was an impressive debut winner at Cambridge on September 10, then finished third in a highly talented three-year-old sprint field at Tauranga on November 1.

Sent out as a $1.60 favourite on Saturday, Passiflora dominated the race from the front in the hands of jockey Leah Hemi. She kicked away at the top of the straight and went on to win by a neck from the strong-finishing Perfect Habit (NZ) (Tivaci), with the third placegetter another two and a half lengths away.

“It was a good ride by Leah and this filly really dug in too,” Ramsay said. “She’s not overly big, but she showed her class today.”

Bred by Pencarrow Thoroughbreds Ltd and raced by Sir Peter Vela, Passiflora comes from the first crop of Group One Golden Slipper (1200m) winner Farnan, who stands for a service fee of A$77,000 at Kia Ora in New South Wales. He has already been represented by 23 winners including North England, King Of Pop and Recuperato at Group Three level.

Passiflora is the first foal out of homebred Pencarrow mare Lilikoi (NZ) (Charm Spirit), who won three races headed by the Group Three Eulogy Stakes (1600m). She also placed in the Group Two Royal Stakes (2000m).

The third dam of Passiflora is the Group One Phoenix Stakes (1200m) winner Damson (Entrepreneur), who was Champion 2YO Filly in Ireland in 2004. Damson is also the third dam of four-time Group One winner Dubai Honour (Pride Of Dubai).

A half-brother to Passiflora by Super Seth will be offered as Lot 522 in Pencarrow’s Book 1 draft during Karaka 2026 on January 25 and 26.