The well-bred Pencarrow Stud graduate Peerage (NZ) (O’Reilly ex. Chimeara) landed the first win of his career in the $7,000 HTL Insurance Maiden 1800m at New Plymouth yesterday for Te Akau Racing, providing half of a winning double for the Pencarrow/Te Akau combination.

The son of champion sire O’Reilly is a half-brother to Group 1 winner De Beers (Quest for Fame) and hails from the influential Eight Carat family.

Trained by Te Akau Racing’s Jason Bridgman, Peerage started the race as a hot favourite following two second placings at his first two starts, on both occasions racing ungenerously and showing his inexperience.

The four-year-old gelding jumped from barrier two for stable jockey Matthew Cameron and found a nice position in behind the leaders early in the race. The gelding started to over-race and Cameron let him roll around to sit outside the leader at the 1000m mark.

Peerage found the lead early in the run home but ran greenly when he was left in front. Cameron managed to keep the horse’s mind on the job and the pair prevailed by three-quarters of a length.

“He is a big raw talent, he has been a work in progress,” commented Bridgman. “He has had a few immaturity issues that have held him up from getting to the races because he is such a big horse.

“He still does a lot wrong but he has a great stamina index and certainly looks a nice horse that will develop into a nice stayer once he develops his racing manners a bit. He just needs to learn to relax a bit more and be a bit more manageable as far as bearings are concerned.

“We will see how he comes through the race, the track was pretty firm down there, but will just work him through the grades. He is only a four-year-old so there is no rush.”

Bred by Peter & Philip Vela, Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis purchased Peerage for $480,000 at the 2011 Karaka Premier Sale from Pencarrow Stud.

Peerage is out of stakes placegetter Chimeara (Danehill), a daughter of dual Group 1 Tristalove (Sir Tristram) and is a full-sister to Group 1 winner Viking Ruler along with stakes winners Kempinsky and Diamond Like as well as being a three-quarter sister to Group 2 winner Lovetrista (Rock of Gibraltar).

This is the family of the great broodmare Eight Carat that has produced numerous Group 1 winners such as Diamond Lover (Sticks and Stones), Octagonal (Zabeel), Kaapstad (Zabeel), Danewin (Danehill), Commands (Danehill) among a long list.

Te Akau Racing and Pencarrow Stud combined in the very next race on the card at New Plymouth with victory to Stanica Star (NZ) (Danzero) also over 1800m.