Three-year-old Pencarrow filly Powerofpersuasion (NZ) (Ten Sovereigns) kicked off her career with a smart victory in the Pioneer P9400 (1400m) at Waverley on Thursday.

The Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie-trained Powerofpersuasion had six trials to prepare her for raceday debut, including a win at Te Rapa in September and a second at Ellerslie on March 11. She was one of the favourites for Thursday’s maiden three-year-old event and delivered in style.

Powerofpersuasion jumped alertly from gate seven in the eight-horse field, and jockey Leah Hemi drove her forward to take the lead within the first 100 metres.

Melkor (Telperion) (NZ) pushed through on her inside, preventing her from getting across to the rail. Melkor made Powerofpersuasion do plenty of work as the leading pair opened up a significant margin over the rest of the field.

Powerofpersuasion finally shook free of Melkor in the home straight, pulling away to score by a length and a quarter over the strong-finishing Damiano (NZ) (Darci Brahma).

Powerofpersuasion’s one-start, one-win career has so far returned $9,520 in stakes for owner Sir Peter Vela. The bay filly was bred by Pencarrow Thoroughbreds Ltd.

Powerofpersuasion is one of 14 winners from only 27 foals to race in the only New Zealand crop sired by Ten Sovereigns. The No Nay Never stallion was himself the winner of four of his eight starts including the Group One July Cup (1200m) and Middle Park Stakes (1200m). He shuttled to Valachi Downs in 2020.

The dam of Powerofpersuasion is Persuasive (NZ) (Darci Brahma), who was a five-time winner between 1200 and 1400 metres and is a granddaughter of the multiple Group winner and 2000 NZB Filly of the Year Sarwatch (NZ) (Jetball).

Since Powerofpersuasion was foaled in the spring of 2021, Persuasive has produced colt foals by Nicconi and Eminent.