A highly impressive come-from-behind performance by Chispa (NZ) (Savabeel) on Randwick’s Kensington track on Wednesday has put the Pencarrow filly in contention for a Group One mission in Brisbane.

The A$60,000 Kia Western Region Dealer of the Year Handicap (1800m) was the second win of a five-start career for Chispa, who has finished second, third and fourth in her other three appearances. She has earned A$63,700 in stakes for her owner and breeder Sir Peter Vela.

Trainer Chris Waller has nominated Chispa for the Group One Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm on June 6, and Wednesday’s performance more than justified continuing in that direction.

Chispa was ridden by James McDonald and dropped back to third-last before hooking to the outside at the top of the straight. She showed a quality turn of foot and charged past seven rivals in the space of 200 metres. Chispa hit the lead and went clear, opening up a winning margin of two and three-quarter lengths.

Chispa is the latest of five winners from six foals to race out of the high-class Pencarrow broodmare Scintillula (Galileo), who herself won the Group Three Meld Stakes (1800m) and ran second in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes (1400m) and fourth in the Irish Oaks (2400m) and Yorkshire Oaks (2400m).

Scintillula has passed that quality on to her progeny, with Chispa being a full-sister to the stakes winner Waikato Girl (NZ) (Savabeel) and Group Two performer Butter Chicken (NZ) (Savabeel).

In a quality international family, Scintillula’s Group Three-winning and Group One-placed sister Cuis Ghaire (Galileo) is the dam of Group One Al Quoz Sprint (1200m) hero Danyah (Invincible Spirit).

Scintillula has had six yearlings sell at Karaka for an average price of over $530,000, headed by a pair of $800,000 purchases in 2019 and 2021.

After foaling Chispa in 2022, Scintillula returned to Savabeel and produced the colt Sauvignon Bloke (NZ), who is now a two-year-old in the Brad Widdup stable.