The promising young filly Vandenne notched up her first career win for the stable yesterday with a tough performance in the $5,000 Hetta Maiden (1400m) at Foxton.

Trained by Steven Ramsay & Julia Ritchie, Vandenne (Van Nistelrooy x Loudenne) has been racing well in her short career of just five raceday outings, coming into yesterday’s race with two consecutive seconds at Counties and Taranaki at her last starts.

Putting in a tough performance, the three-year-old Van Nistelrooy filly jumped well and settled midfield, and came very wide on the home turn under jockey James McDonald. Covering a lot of ground in the last 600 metres, and running close to the outside rail, Vandenne fought gamely and raced to the lead in the final strides, recording her first win by half-a-neck.

From a performing family, Vandenne is from the stakes placed Palace Music mare Loudenne, and is a half-sister to the Group 1 winner and 2008 NZB Filly of the Year Insouciant (Keeper), the Group 3 winner Copper Mountain (Jetball), and the talented two-year-old and Group 1 placed Chateauneuf Dupape (Darci Brahma).

From only five race starts, Vandenne has produced one win and two placings, and looks to be improving with every appearance. Yesterday’s win has taken her domestic rating to 68.

A wonderful broodmare, Chateauneuf Dupape was Loudenne’s last foal.