Pencarrow Stud enjoyed a stellar day at Hawke’s Bay yesterday with Key To Dance, Via Veneto and Saint Martins all saluting the judge for Pencarrow Racing trainers Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie.

Key To Dance (Dansili x Key Change, by Darshaan) started the ball rolling when she won the Awesum Organics Maiden (2200m) in the hands of apprentice Bridget Grylls. After settling near the rear on the fence, the Irish import made a bold move from the 600 metres and stayed on strongly down the outside of the track to win by a neck.

"It was a good effort to win at her third start and she’s very well bred, so we’ll just look to work her through the grades and see where we end up. Obviously getting black type is the plan with all of these fillies before they go to stud,” commented co-trainer Steven Ramsay.

Via Veneto (Cape Cross x Shopping Spree, by Sadler’s Wells) dead-heated in the next event on the card, the JM Bostock Ltd Rating 75 (2000m) in the hands of in-form jockey Jonathon Parkes. Coming into the race off the back of two second placings Via Veneto pulled hard in the early stages of the race but fought resolutely after being clearly headed by Second Hope in the run home.

“That was a tough win in her first start over a trip this preparation,” Ramsay said.

“We would like to get her ready for the Taranaki Cup, which carries black type and we have had some luck in the race before when we won it with Our Ella Belle (Encosta de Lago).”

Saint Martins (Darci Brahma x Jeanetta Cochrane, by Sadler’s Wells) provided Pencarrow Racing with a hat-trick when she won the DMP Metric Mile R65 Fillies and Mares (1600m).

Ridden by Jonathon Riddell, Saint Martins looked as though she was going to be the hard luck story of the race after struggling to find clear air early in the home straight but sprinted hard in the shadows of the post to win well.

“She really hit the line today and we think she will make a lovely staying mare so we’ll try and find a nice 2000m race for her. We have been patient with her and she’s only had four starts for two wins so there is a bit of upside to her.”

Social Racing’s lessee Hoofsain Bolt (Casino Prince x Huluava) was the last runner for the day for Ramsay/Richie team and unfortunately didn’t provide the dream result the public syndicate was hoping for.

After pulling hard early in the run for jockey Lisa Allpress, Hoofsain Bolt only finished off fairly in the run home to finish sixth. She is sure to be back in good stead as she gets ready for the Twilight Meeting at Ellerslie on 13 February.

Via Veneto and Saint Martins are both out of imported mares by the champion sire Sadler’s Wells who have both left stakes performing progeny. Shopping Spree (Via Veneto) has left Kudamm (Cape Cross) who ran second in the listed South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes while Jeanetta Cochrane (Saint Martins) has left the Group 2 Queensland Guineas winner Saxon (Danehill).

Key to Dance was purchased by Paul Moroney on behalf of Peter and Philip Vela from the John Oxx stable at Tattersalls in 2011 and hails from the distinguished Aga Khan family.