Pencarrow’s Sunset Boulevard (NZ) (Eminent) added a sixth win to his highly promising record when he took out the $65,000 Road Metals Premier (2000m) on the opening day of the New Zealand Cup Carnival at Riccarton on Saturday.

The Kevin Myers-trained five-year-old has now had 18 starts for six wins, four placings and $141,680 in stakes.

Sunset Boulevard was assigned 60.5kg on Saturday, but Myers booked apprentice jockey Floor Moerman and used her claim to reduce that weight to 57.5kg.

Moerman got Sunset Boulevard to settle into a smooth rhythm in fifth, then angled wide at the home turn and asked him to extend.

Sunset Boulevard and Peachy Keen (NZ) (Reliable Man) surged to the front together in the straight and fought out a two-way battle to the finish, with Sunset Boulevard digging deep and finding a little bit more to win by a head.

Sunset Boulevard began his career as a three-year-old two seasons ago, recording a win and two placings from three appearances. He added another three wins during an 11-start season in 2024-25, and is now a two-time winner from four races this spring. He holds a nomination for next Saturday’s $450,000 Group Three Martin Collins 162^nd New Zealand Cup (3200m). That time-honoured staying feature was won by the Pencarrow-bred Mehzebeen (NZ) (Almanzor) last year.

Sunset Boulevard was bred by Pencarrow Thoroughbreds Ltd and is raced by Sir Peter Vela. He is a son of Sir Peter’s multiple Group winner and Group One placegetter Eminent, who stands at Brighthill Farm.

Eminent 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 37 winners from 83 runners.

The dam of Sunset Boulevard is North of Sunset (NZ) (Red Ransom), who is a half-sister to the stakes winner and Group One-placed Pencarrow mare Wildflower (NZ) (Keeper). North of Sunset is also a blood-sister to the Group Three winner and black-type producer Amaryllis (NZ) (Red Ransom), while her dam Zygadene (NZ) (Zabeel) is a blood-sister to the dam of multiple Australian Group One winner Humidor (NZ) (Teofilo).

Sunset Boulevard’s fourth dam is the multiple Group One winner and prolific broodmare Habibti (Habitat), a half-sister to the legendary Eight Carat (Pieces of Eight).

Sunset Boulevard is one of two winners from three named foals out of North of Sunset, who has also been represented by six-race winner Palm Springs (NZ) (Super Easy). The three-year-old Don’t Tell The Mrs (NZ) (Vadamos) has placed in two of his three starts.