Previously a five-time placegetter, consistent Pencarrow mare Romanin (NZ) (Eminent) broke through for a richly deserved first win in the $17,000 George Shannon Livestock (1700m) on Awapuni’s synthetic track on Sunday.

Trained by Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie, the half-sister to Group Two winner Too Sweet (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) went into Sunday’s race with second or third placings under her belt at Matamata (twice), Ruakaka, Tauranga at Pukekohe. In her first visit to Awapuni, she cleared maiden ranks in style.

Romanin was ridden by Amber Riddell and jumped from the outside gate in an eight-horse field. The five-year-old was taken back in the early stages and settled at the tail of the field, then began to improve her position out wide approaching the home turn.

Still third-last and half a dozen lengths off the lead at the top of the straight, Romanin produced a powerful finish down the outside of the track to overhaul the front-running Richard Farrell (NZ) (Staphanos) and win by three-quarters of a length from the late-finishing Rock Catcher (NZ) (Satono Aladdin).

Romanin has now had 17 starts for a win, a second, four thirds, a fourth and three fifths. She has earned $26,335 in stakes. She was bred by Pencarrow Thoroughbreds Ltd and is raced by Sir Peter Vela.

Romanin is a daughter of Sir Peter’s multiple Group winner and Group One placegetter Eminent, who stands at Brighthill Farm.

Eminent himself carried Sir Peter’s blue and white hooped colours to victory in the Group Two Prix Guillaume d’Ornano (2000m) and Group Three Craven Stakes (1600m), along with placings in the Group One Ranvet Stakes (2000m) and Irish Champion Stakes (2000m). Eminent is the sire of 48 winners from 102 runners.

The dam of Romanin is the unraced Sparkling Rose (NZ) (Bernardini), whose second dam Madame Echezeaux (NZ) (Montjeu) is an unraced half-sister to the Pencarrow-bred Group One performers and star sires Darci Brahma (NZ) (Danehill) and Burgundy (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice). This famous Pencarrow family also produced the mighty Ethereal (NZ) (Rhythm) along with many other black-type performers.

Sparkling Rose is herself the dam of two winners from three foals to race, with Romanin’s half-sister Too Sweet winning last season’s Group Two Eclipse Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie.