It was a strong weekend for Pencarrow Stud with three individual winners and a stakes placing at Saturday’s meeting at Otaki.

In a day full of strong performances, it is hard to look past Ebullient’s (Stravinsky x Ethereal) performance. The blue-blood son of Ethereal raced on the speed in the $8,000 Haunui Farm Stallions Maiden Stakes (1400m) and kicked away in the straight to record a two-and-a-half-length win.

Trained by Steven Ramsay & Julia Ritchie and ridden by the in-form James McDonald who rode an astonishing six winners in the meeting, Ebullient’s win was very professional and hinted at better things to come from the four-year-old. Saturday’s outing was only his third race day appearance; his previous races have seen him notch up two second placings.

The win by Guiseppina (Johar x Battocchi) in the $10,000 Kingston Lodge Tiger Prawn Trophy (1200m) can only be described as emphatic as she really thrashed her rivals fresh up.

Coming off a trial earlier this month, Guiseppina was backed into favouritism for the race and after starting well, began circling the field at the 800 metre mark. Travelling well into the straight, jockey James McDonald gave her a little encouragement at the 250 metre mark and she bolted away, easing down at the line for almost a four-length win.

An indication as to what she is capable of, her maiden win came at her second start where she beat the multiple Group 1 winner Keep the Peace by a neck and Saturday’s stakes winner The Party Stand.

Trained by Steven Ramsay & Julia Ritchie, she is now the winner of two of her four starts and is another who has indicated that bigger things could be on the horizon.

Via Veneto (Cape Cross x Shopping Spree) made it three for Steven Ramsay & Julia Ritchie and James McDonald in the $10,000 The Dominion Post St Leger trial (2100m).

Leading after settling in front, Via Veneto railed well into the straight and was immediately challenged. Refusing to throw in the towel, the mare fought gamely for the entire straight to record a brave head win at the post.

Game in her last start at Ellerslie over a mile where she ran third, the four-year-old lapped up the extra distance and showed good fighting qualities to hold on to the line.

The two-year-old colt Bespoke (Pins x Velvet And Satin) also represented Pencarrow Stud in the $50,000 Listed Waikato Stud Slipper, running a good third. The colt was offered in the 2010 Karaka Premier Sale by Pencarrow Stud and was bought by David Ellis for $460,000. The colt is heading for the Group 1 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes on April 2.

The Stud also had two trial winners last week with Burgundy (Redoute's Choice x Grand Echezeaux), who was a $1.3 million purchase from the 2010 Karaka Premier Sale, and Viva Roma (Spartacus x Verganti) who has had a short break from the track.