Exciting Pencarrow mare Passiflora (NZ) (Farnan) made a super-impressive start to her four-year-old season at Hawera on Wednesday, winning the $18,500 Grangewilliam Stud (1200m) by six lengths and in blistering time.

Trained by Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie, Passiflora has now had eight starts for three wins, three placings and $63,510 in stakes, and Wednesday’s performance hinted at a whole lot more to come.

Passiflora showed bright promise as a three-year-old last season, winning twice along with close-up performances behind highly talented opponents like War Princess (NZ) (US Navy Flag), Cheerio (Maurice), Chatelle Rose (NZ) (US Navy Flag), Lady Iris (NZ) (US Navy Flag), Little Black Dress (Snitzel) and Avantaggia (Wootton Bassett).

A seven-length winner of a Taupo trial in the lead-up to Wednesday’s raceday return, Passiflora jumped as a red-hot $1.30 favourite in the Rating 75 sprint and proved to be every bit as dominant on the track as she was on paper.

Passiflora was ridden by Joe Doyle and slid through along the inside to take the lead within the first 100 metres of the race. She dominated from that point on and kicked powerfully at the top of the home straight. None of her eight rivals could match that burst of speed, and Passiflora charged clear to win by six lengths. She stopped the clock at 1:08.98 for the 1200 metres.

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 Vinery Stud in New South Wales. He has already been represented by 83 winners including Group Two winner Ninja, Group Three winner and Group One placegetter Profoundly, and Group Three winners North England, King Of Pop and Recuperato.

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 the multiple Group One-winning globetrotter Dubai Honour (Pride Of Dubai).

Phoenix Park will offer a half-brother to Passiflora during the NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka later this month. The gelding by Super Seth is catalogued as Lot 347.