Leading all the way to land back-to-back victories, Promises (Keeper x Promethean) took her second win in the $12,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series 1600 at Te Aroha yesterday.

The Keeper filly, now with two wins from her six starts, broke her maiden status at her last start over 1600m at Avondale. Trained by Shaune Ritchie, she has been unlucky in two of her starts and placed third and fourth in her other two races.

“It was a good gutsy win,” commented Pencarrow’s racing manager Gary Cossey. “She was untried on the ground but her work leading into the race indicated she would be fine and thought that race would be worth a crack especially with the Pearl Series bonus attached.”

Mark Du Plessis rode Promises, jumping to the lead at the start closely followed by Endean Rose (NZ) (Savabeel), who travelled on the rail half-a-length behind. With 1200m to go, Promises raced away to be one-and-a-half lengths ahead with six lengths between her and the last horse of the field.

Race rival Capriella (Marju) pressed forward on the outside to challenge the Keeper filly on the turn for home but Promises kept up appearances and ran away to win by one-and-a-quarter lengths. Endean Rose held on for second place and Capriella took third place.

“We will aim her towards some back-type races now,” notes Cossey. “We will look at running her in the Manawatu Classic next, a Group 3 race run over 2000m for three-year-olds on the 28 March.”

Owned by Sir Peter Vela, Promises has earned a total of $14,575 in prizemoney. She is also registered for the Pearl Series and winning this race has earned her a Pearl Bonus (Level B) of $11,500.

Bred by Sir Peter Vela and Philip Vela, the three-year-old filly is out of winning mare Promethean (Grand Lodge), who placed fourth in the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic. Granddam Sarwatch (Jetball) was NZB Filly of the Year in 2000, with her win including the Group 2 Royal Stakes.