A few days after rising star Tomodachi (NZ) (Tarzino) carried the Pencarrow colours into third place in the Group One Proisir Plate (1400m), another exciting member of the racing team announced her arrival with a winning debut at Cambridge on Wednesday.

The $18,500 NZ Horse Ambulance (970m) was the raceday debut for the beautifully bred three-year-old Passiflora (NZ) (Farnan), who was ridden by Jasmine Fawcett for trainers Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie.

Fawcett pushed Passiflora forward from her wide gate and soon took the lead. That was where she stayed, kicking hard off the home turn and opening up a commanding advantage in the straight. Zivou (NZ) (Bivouac) came with a late run to eat into the margin, but Passiflora still had a length and a quarter up her sleeve at the finish line. The 970 metres were run in 55.46 seconds – 0.7 seconds outside Cambridge’s track record.

“I am really rapt with that,” Ramsay said. “She drew the outside and we were a wee bit worried, but the other plan was to go to Taranaki on Saturday and that is going to be a Heavy10.

“She has got a fair bit of speed, and that was a very good effort from the outside gate. I think she is going to get better and better. She rails like a greyhound. She is not overly big, but she has got a ton of speed.”

Passiflora’s one-start, one-win career has so far earned $10,360 in stakes. The filly was bred by Pencarrow Thoroughbreds Ltd and is raced by Sir Peter Vela.

Passiflora comes from the first crop of Group One Golden Slipper 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 19 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).

Since Passiflora was foaled in 2022, Lilikoi has produced a colt by Turn Me Loose (NZ) and a colt by Super Seth. The son of Turn Me Loose will be offered at the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka in November, where he is catalogued as Lot 432.