It was a big day for Pencarrow Racing and Pencarrow Stud at the Taupo meeting today with Burgundy headlining a host of impressive performances.

Bred by Peter and Philip Vela, Burgundy (Redoute’s Choice x Grand Echezeaux) was a $1.3 million purchase by David Ellis from Pencarrow Stud at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2010 Karaka Premier Sale.

Coming into his debut, The Battle Paint 3YO Maiden (1200m), with two successful trial wins, Burgundy had to work hard under jockey Matthew Cameron to secure his debut victory.

Missing the start and forced to race three wide, Cameron rated the horse beautifully and kept the $1.90 favourite keen in transit. Coming into the straight, Burgundy found a game challenge in Heat Blast (Captain Rio) who made the colt work, but he was too good in the final stages, racing away to a one-and-a-half-length win.

Burgundy’s trainer Jason Bridgman was full of praise for the colt.

“He raced very well, he had a tough trip being posted wide and found a challenge in the straight but he would have taken a lot from the run.

“He’s shown us that he has a lot of ability but to show it on the track is another thing entirely so we are very happy to see him win.

“He is such a laid back horse, probably one of the most laid back in the stable, he really is the full package.”

Bridgman did not outline a next start for Burgundy who is well on his way to his spring target, the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas.

“We have a number of options for the horse and we will see how he comes through today before deciding where he will go next.”

Burgundy is a three-quarter-brother to the five time Group 1 winner and sire Darci Brahma who was also bred and sold by Pencarrow Stud.

Pencarrow Racing made it a winning double for the champion sire Redoute’s Choice with the $1.90 favourite Papilio (ex Lafleur) putting in a big performance for her jockey James McDonald in the New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance 1200 Maiden. She also brought up the first New Zealand win for Pencarrow Racing this season.

Only lightly raced, the Steven Ramsay & Julia Ritchie trained Papilio has shown a good deal of ability notching up two placings from three starts, but today saw her deliver a performance that suggests that she has a lot more to offer.

Well bred, Papilio is from the Group 2 winning Zabeel mare Lafleur and is a half-sister to last season’s Group 3 Darley Plate winner Amaryllis (Red Ransom) who was also raced by Pencarrow and has been retired to stud this season.

The fourth race on the card, the Paco Boy at Waikato Stud 3YO Maiden (1200m), saw the Frank Ritchie trained Brela Belle (Darci Brahma x Christiania Belle) go within half-a-head of winning her race track debut after showing plenty of promise at the trials.

From Darci Brahma’s first crop, Brela Belle is from the Group 2 winning mare Christiania Belle (Sackford) and is a half-sister to the Group 3 winner Zino Belle (Success Express). She holds a nomination for the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas in November.

The Steven Ramsay & Julia Ritchie trained Pink Beach (Johar x Anakela Bay) capped off a highly successful meeting winning the final race, the Taupo Vet Centre 1800, for James McDonald.

After jumping on the speed, the five-year-old dropped back in the running and was brought forward at the 600 metres, coming wide on the turn and holding her rivals at bay to record a short neck victory.

Her win brought up the third win of the meeting for Pencarrow bred horses, the second for Steven Ramsay & Julia Ritchie, James McDonald and the second of her nine start career.