The Pencarrow bred blue-blooded entire Burgundy – a $1.3 million purchase from NZB’s 2010 Karaka Premier Sale – has set the scene for a big season with a fighting fresh up victory in the $50,000 Listed Chainey's Panasonic Levin Stakes (1200m).

A triple stakes winning three-year-old, Burgundy (Redoute’s Choice x Grand Echezeaux, by Zabeel) won the Listed Mr Tiz Trophy and Group 3 Breeders’ Stakes in his final two starts last season and came into today’s Listed race fresh up after winning both of his trials.

Ridden by jockey Matthew Cameron, Burgundy had to work early to take the lead and came under siege in the straight but in a brave effort from the four-year-old he kept finding and held his rivals to the line to win by half-a-length.

Trainer Jason Bridgman was pleased with the horse’s fresh up performance.

“He is a resolute galloper and he never knows when he’s beat,” commented Bridgman. “He missed the start slightly and had to do a bit of work early which cost him a bit in the straight.”

“He will take a lot of improvement from the race. He wasn’t fully wound up for today so coming into the Christmas and New Year races he will be fully fit. We will take him to the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1200m) next up and then onto the Group 1 Telegraph Handicap (1200m).

“I think once he gets up to 1400 and 1600 metres this preparation we will see the best of this horse.”

Bred by Peter and Philip Vela, Burgundy was purchased by David Ellis from Pencarrow Stud at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2010 Karaka Premier Sale for $1.3 million, the second highest price of his year.

Burgundy is a three-quarter brother to the five time Group 1 winner and sire Darci Brahma (Danehill) and his dam Grand Echezeaux foaled a filly by Encosta de Lago in 2011 and a colt by O’Reilly this season.