The Pencarrow bred colt Bespoke showed a world of grit and courage in yesterday’s Listed Berkley Stud Welcome Stakes at Riccarton to notch up his first stakes success.

Looking certain to settle for the minor placings as the pack neared home, Bespoke put in a thrilling dash for the line to edge out the leader by a nose.

The exciting two-year-old by Pins from Pencarrow broodmare Velvet and Satin (Carnegie) is now a winner of two of his three career starts. He was a very impressive trial winner before winning on debut, and was then second placed by just half a head his second time out.

The colt was purchased by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis at the Karaka Premier Sale earlier this year for $460,000. Trained by Jason Bridgman with Opie Bosson aboard, Bespoke is raced by a large syndicate of owners that includes minor shareholder Infinity Thoroughbreds of which Peter Vela’s daughter Petrea is a member.

Bespoke is the first foal of his young dam, Velvet and Satin, herself a daughter of the great Pencarrow producer Romanee Conti, dam of Ethereal.

In early September Velvet and Satin foaled a full brother to Bespoke who will be offered at Karaka as a yearling. Pencarrow has retained Velvet and Satin’s yearling filly by O’Reilly to race.