Four-year-old mare Willing Spirit has made a good impression from just a handful of starts taking her second win today at Matamata in the $7,000 Join the Price Racing Team (1200m).

The Steven Ramsay & Julia Ritchie trained Darci Brahma mare (ex Virtus, by Tale of the Cat) had just five starts coming into today’s race, breaking maiden ranks at her third appearance at Otaki in early January. This afternoon she took her winning tally to two under a good ride from apprentice jockey Michael Dee.

With punters’ attention firmly fixed on Valedictory (Exceed and Excel) who led the field into the straight, it was the daughter of Darci Brahma who produced a late surge from mid-field to win by a long neck at a generous price of $10.90.

Willing Spirit ran two placings coming into today’s race having finished second two starts ago at Te Aroha after leading the field, and then third at Otaki earlier this month.

Bred by Peter and Philip Vela, Willing Spirit is the second of two winning daughters from her dam Virtus (Tale of the Cat), the other being Alentejo (Spartacus) who was also raced by Pencarrow Racing.

Virtus produced a filly by Encosta de Lago in 2011 that will be retained by the Stud to race, and she was served by Alamosa in 2012.