The royally-bred Pure Elegance lived up to the promise she had shown in earlier trials today with a dominant debut victory at Waipukurau in a maiden 2YO handicap over 1200 metres.

Ridden by James McDonald, Pure Elegance (Redoute's Choice x Our Echezeaux) was a class above her rivals and in a hands and heels ride for the majority of the straight, she strode out to the post to win by an easy five-and-a-half-lengths.

The Steven Ramsay & Julia Ritchie trained two-year-old filly came into the race after being successful at both her trials at Cambridge on February 28 and March 8 with James McDonald aboard on both occasions.

“We are really pleased with her performance,” commented Steven Ramsay. “We have a high opinion of her and she showed a good turn of foot when James gave her one behind the saddle at the 200 metres.

“We thought this would be a good chance to give her a trip away as she will need to do a fair bit of traveling as a three-year-old.

“We will send her to the paddock now and give her a good break. We will discuss plans with Peter and Philip but we will look to bring her back in June and get her ready for the big three-year-old races next season.”

Bred by Peter and Philip Vela, Pure Elegance is the latest winner from one of Pencarrow Stud’s hottest foundation families. Her dam Our Echezeaux is a sister to Group 1 winner Grand Echezeaux, the dam of the five-time Group 1 winner and sire Darci Brahma (Danehill) and dual stakes winner Burgundy (Redoute’s Choice).

Grand Echezeaux is also the dam of the young sire Saperavi (Stravinsky) who sired his first two-year-old winner, Emily Trimbole, at Wingatui yesterday. His oldest progeny are two-year-olds.

Pure Elegance is a sister to Dolmabache who has won twice. Her dam Our Echezeaux foaled a colt by High Chaparral last season.