Pencarrow bred and raced filly Via Veneto (Cape Cross x Shopping Spree, by Sadler’s Wells) trekked to the Taranaki to make her debut appearance in the Marsh Ltd Maiden 3YO (1400m), and didn’t disappoint.

Bred to be a classic filly, the Mark Walker trained three-year-old had had four trials in preparation for her debut in which she registered two placings.

Facing a field of ten relatively unknown quantities with little exposed race form, Via Veneto jumped from gate 4 and settled nicely just off the pace for Opie Bosson.
Approaching the home turn Bosson clearly had a lap full of horse with quick acceleration from Via Veneto when asked to extend.

Via Veneto pulled away from her rivals who were left chasing her tail, with the eventual winning margin one and a quarter lengths over High Chaparral colt, Hi Flo.

Via Veneto, named after a well known shopping strip in Rome, is a full-sister to Pencarrow’s equally promising Kudamm who won three races last season from just six starts.

Both Cape Cross daughters are out of Shopping Spree, a daughter of Sadler’s Wells who formed part of the group of mares that Pencarrow imported from Ireland in foal to Danehill at the beginning of the new millenium.

Shopping Spree has now left two foals to race for two winners and is from the family of European Group winners Zoman, Yellowstone, and River Deep.

With a two-year-old Pentire daughter from Shopping Spree to be retained by Pencarrow Stud, the dam of the exciting Cape Cross duo visits five-time Group 1 winner Darci Brahma this season.