The talented Pencarrow Racing three-year-old Silver Eclipse (Darci Brahma x Zino Belle) prevailed on a premier day of racing at Trentham in the $40,000 Mitsubishi Electric 3YO (1200m) defeating boom three-year-old Cauthen (Darci Brahma).

The daughter of Darci Brahma had not raced since finishing fifth in the Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial in late November over 1500m for resident Pencarrow trainers Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie. She had won her two previous career starts, both over 1200m.

Ridden by Leith Innes, Silver Eclipse settled mid-field down the 1200m dog-leg circuit and was three-wide with cover behind race-favourite Cauthen.

As the field straightened, the Pencarrow filly peeled off the heels of Cauthen and challenged the boom colt. She went passed Cauthen who fought back on her inside to make the race interesting over the concluding stages but Silver Eclipse gamely held onto the lead to win by a nose with 1.9 lengths back to third.

“It was a pretty good effort, she actually pulled two plates off in the running which made it an even better effort,” commented Ramsay. “She has a pretty good turn of foot, she had a bit of a bumping duel but when she got out she showed a good turn of foot.

“They ran a good time, they ran 1.08 and that is only her fourth start. It is quite exciting to be three from four and sprinting seems to be her go.

“Hopefully she can keep stepping up, obviously Cauthen is no slouch so it was good to beat him.

“I will just freshen her up, put her in paddock for seven days then bring her back for the Mr Tiz Trophy on the last day of the carnival at Auckland.”

Saturday’s victory takes the record of Silver Eclipse to three wins from four starts and earnings of $35,625 for her owner Sir Peter Vela.

Bred by Sir Peter Vela along with Philip Vela, the three-year-old filly is out of Group 3 Hawke’s Bay Gold Trail Stakes winner Zino Belle (Success Express) and is the fifth winner out of the mare. Zino Belle is a daughter of Group 2 winner Christiania Belle (Sackford) is from the famous ‘Belle’ family that has left stakes winners such as Finezza Belle (Sir Tristram), Winning Belle (Zabeel), Plucky Belle (Mossman) and Our Ella Belle (Encosta de Lago).

Pencarrow yearling graduate Darci Brahma enjoyed a great weekend at Trentham last weekend as he sired the Group 1 winners Irish Fling and Recite. He continued the rich vein of form this weekend with the quinella between Silver Eclipse and Cauthen and also sired the winner of the last race at Trentham with Julinsky Prince successful in the Douro Cup.

Saturday was a successful day for Pencarrow Racing as they also had two winners at Ashburton with Southern Pride (Reset x Millar’s Pride) and Revolutionary (Darci Brahma x Iconic) both victorious in the South Island.

Pencarrow Stud has 24 yearlings in New Zealand Bloodstock’s Karaka Premier Sale this week with selling commencing tomorrow. The first Pencarrow yearling through the ring will be Lot 35, a colt by O’Reilly out of Grand Echezeaux making him a half-brother to Darci Brahma.