Goyescas - the richly bred daughter of Encosta de Lago - graduated from maiden company at start number three in impressive style at New Plymouth today for Te Akau trainer Jason Bridgman, also providing the comeback victory for jockey Shane Dye.

A trial winner at Waipa on a slow track before her first start this preparation, Goyescas (ex Larrocha) showed a liking for the easing in the track conditions when she raced away to win by three-and-a-half-lengths on the officially Slow 7 rated track.

With the benefit of a fresh up run over 1400m under her belt on her home track at Matamata, Shane Dye thought she would be a good chance today.

“She got a little wound up at Matamata and paraded a lot more relaxed today,” Dye commented. “She’s a progressive mare and the easing in the track definitely helped her.”

With a query over whether the mare might get over more ground being out of the Group 1 South Australian Oaks winner Larrocha (Danehill) Dye wasn’t yet convinced.

“Not at this stage - that was a good strong win today and I think she will be happy at 1400m to a mile at the moment.”

Shane also rode the Pencarrow Stud bred and raced Willing Spirit (Darci Brahma) to finish sixth earlier in the program.

“She was a little green today but ran well and will improve a tonne with that,” he commented after the run.

After starting his comeback by riding track work at Pencarrow Racing headquarters in Maungatautari, Dye is taking the future slowly.

“I just want to get to where I’m happy with and want to be, I’m riding plenty of work for Jason at Matamata and out at the farm for Steven and Julia and everything is ticking along well.”

Goyescas was bought as a yearling on the Gold Coast by Te Akau principal David Ellis on behalf of Peter and Philip Vela and is a full-sister to Group 2 VRC Wakeful Stakes winner Rocha (Encosta de Lago). It is also the same family as Group 1 VRC Derby winner Blackfriars (Danehill) and Group 2 Tulloch Stakes winner Manton (Danehill).