The first two days of the New Zealand Cup Carnival at Riccarton have produced two impressive wins for Pencarrow's Sunset Boulevard (NZ) (Eminent).

The promising five-year-old captured the $65,000 Road Metals Premier (2000m) on the opening day of the carnival last Saturday, then backed up four days later, stepped up into open class and delivered a repeat result in Wednesday’s $65,000 Wuhan Jockey Club Premier (2000m).

The Kevin Myers-trained Sunset Boulevard has now had 19 starts for seven wins, four placings and $179,055 in stakes for owner-breeder Sir Peter Vela.

Sunset Boulevard was ridden on Wednesday by Tina Comignaghi, who took up a handy position in fifth and one off the rail. The pair briefly found themselves boxed in at the top of the home straight, but Comignaghi worked her way into the clear and asked Sunset Boulevard to extend.

Sunset Boulevard warmed into his work and strode to the lead with 100 metres remaining, going on to win by three-quarters of a length.

“He is putting together quite a few wins now, he is turning into quite a handy horse,” Myers’ son Jason said. “He is continuing to improve. I think the extra year on him has suited him and he is starting to come into a bit of form.”

Sunset Boulevard was also entered for the third day of the carnival on Saturday, but his connections decided to save him for potential black-type targets in the North Island.

“There are some nice races for him back up north, maybe a Wanganui Cup (Listed, 2040m).”

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.

Pencarrow Stud bred Toa Haka (NZ) (Iffraaj) was also successful throughout New Zealand Cup Week, taking out the $75,000 Dakins Group Premier (1400m) at Riccarton. From the Darci Brahma mare Rasa Lila (NZ), Pencarrow Stud will offer a half-sibling at Karaka 2026 by Satono Aladdin.