The recent good form of Pencarrow Racing runners continued with Atacama (Pentire x Almaviva) prevailing in the $15,000 passionforhair.co.nz Rating 85 over 1400m at Ruakaka on Saturday.

The four-year-old daughter of Pentire, trained by Shaune Ritchie, was making her seasonal reappearance following an unplaced effort in the Group 3 Sunline Vase in March. The win was her third from seven raceday appearances, while she was also the third winner for Pencarrow Racing in five days.

Ridden by top jockey Mark du Plessis, the four-year-old mare found herself near the tail of the field in the early stages of the race. On entering the home straight, du Plessis pulled the mare to centre of the track and she sprinted strongly to clear away from the field to win by one-and-a-quarter-lengths.

Bred by Peter and Philip Vela, Atacama is the second foal to race out of Almaviva (Catbird) and is the second winner. Her second dam is the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks placegetter Pavan (Centaine) and she is from the family of Group 1 winners Marmalitre (Wolverton) and Allez Suez (Canny Lad).

Almaviva foaled a striking colt by Savabeel last month and is set to be served by first season sire Reliable Man this year.