With an emphatic maiden victory at New Plymouth on Thursday, Dresse Par Joli (NZ) (Tavistock) hinted at a promising future for her breeder and part-owner Sir Peter Vela.

The four-year-old mare went into Thursday’s $17,000 The Underbelly Transport Ltd Maiden (2000m) with two seconds and two fourths to her name from her four previous starts, and she was sent out as a $2.40 favourite. She proved to be just as dominant on the racetrack as she was in the betting market.

Dresse Par Joli was one of the last to leave the starting gates, but recovered well to take up a position in fifth as the field passed the finish line with a lap to go. Apprentice jockey Triston Moodley began to warm the talented mare up after the 1000-metre mark, and she was third and breathing down the necks of the leaders just before the home turn.

Dresse Par Joli hit the front at the top of the straight and raced clear through the last 150 metres, opening up a winning margin of three and a half lengths.

From a five-race career, Dresse Par Joli has recorded a win, two seconds and two fourths. She has earned $17,025.

Dresse Par Joli is trained at New Plymouth by Allan Sharrock, who shares ownership with his brother Bruce – who is the chief executive of New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing – along with Dean McKenzie and Pencarrow principal Sir Peter Vela.

Dresse Par Joli was bred by Pencarrow Thoroughbreds Ltd and is the first foal out of Cote D’Or (NZ) (Makfi), who won eight races in the Pencarrow colours including the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m).

Cote D’Or is a half-sister to the Group Two winner Dolmabache (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice), Group Three winner Pure Elegance (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) and Group Three-placed Les Crayeres (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice).

Their dam Our Echezeaux (NZ) (Zabeel) is a full-sister to Grand Echezeaux (NZ) (Zabeel), who won at Group One level and is the dam of quality racehorses and sires Darci Brahma (NZ) (Danehill) and Burgundy (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice).

Since Dresse Par Joli was foaled in 2019, Cote D’Or has produced the promising three-year-old Shooting Stride (NZ) (Iffraaj), unraced Australian two-year-old Maison Louis (NZ) (Super Seth), yearling filly Echannay (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) and a weanling filly by Almanzor. She was served by Proisir last spring.