Pencarrow mare Sesimbra (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) led all the way for an impressive victory in the $18,500 Water Services NZ Taupo (1100m) at Taupo on Sunday.

Ridden by apprentice jockey Jack Taplin for trainers Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie, the four-year-old broke well from gate two and charged forward to take the lead inside the first 100 metres.

That was where she stayed, controlling the race up to the turn and kicking away at the top of the straight. Carsolio (Bivouac) produced a strong finish and drew up alongside her, but Sesimbra saw him coming and lifted again. She held on to beat Carsolio by a long neck, with another two and a quarter lengths back to the third placegetter.

It was the fourth win of a 13-start career for Sesimbra, who has also recorded two placings and has earned $83,650 in stakes. Sesimbra was bred by Pencarrow Thoroughbreds Ltd and is raced by Sir Peter Vela.

Sesimbra is by The Oaks Stud stallion U S Navy Flag, whose high-class racing career included victories in the Group One July Cup (1200m), Dewhurst Stakes (1400m) and Middle Park Stakes (1200m). He was New Zealand’s leading first-season sire in 2022-23 and leading second-season sire in 2023-24. His 48 winners in New Zealand include the black-type stars Pendragon (NZ), War Princess (NZ), So Naive (NZ) and Chantilly Lace (NZ).

The dam of Sesimbra is the unraced Aveiro (NZ) (O’Reilly), whose dam Dolmabache (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) won the Group Two Travis Stakes (2000m) and placed in the Group One International Stakes (2000m).

Dolmabache is out of Our Echezeaux (NZ) (Zabeel), a full-sister to Grand Echezeaux (NZ) (Zabeel), who won at Group One level and produced the quality sires Darci Brahma (NZ) and Burgundy (NZ).

Aveiro is the dam of two winners from two foals to race. Sesimbra’s year-older half-sister Arcachon (NZ) (Pierro) was won once from a three-start career.

Aveiro foaled a colt by All Too Hard in 2023, a filly by Staphanos in 2024, and a colt by last season’s leading first-season sire Hello Youmzain in 2025. She was subsequently served Windsor Park Stud’s exciting new stallion recruit, the multiple Group One winner Auguste Rodin.