Pencarrow Stud graduate El Nahra (Darci Brahma x Magical Moment) entered the winner’s circle for the first time in the $7,000 Port FM 1600(m) at Phar Lap Raceway on Friday.

The lightly raced three-year-old has had just four starts since his debut in February at Avondale for trainers Peter and Dawn Williams. Following this he travelled south to join Neill Ridley’s stable in Riccarton where he has twice run sixth place.

“It was a very good performance,” commented Ridley. “We were pretty confident he would be in the money although he had to do a bit of work to make up the last bit but he did quite well.

“He is going to have one more start and then go out for a break to strengthen up.”

Racha Cuneen took her third ride on El Nahra, jumping from barrier 7 and dropping back to the rear of the 10-horse field. Your Honour (NZ) (Painted Black) set the pace while El Nahra raced keenly behind mid-field, finding a position one off the rail between Fair Spoken (NZ) (Golan) and Shush (NZ) (Gallant Guru).

Your Honour raced around the turn for home creating a three-length gap from the rest of the field but it was El Nahra who dug deep in the final 200m and claimed victory by a half-head over Your Honour, who finished in second place, and Opini Ranger (NZ) (Red Giant) taking third.

The three-year-old gelding has now earned $4,375 in prizemoney for his owners of Barneswood Farm Ltd’s Sarah Green and Ger Beemsterboer.

The son of Darci Brahma was purchased by Beemsterboer at the 2013 Karaka Premier Sale for $70,000 from Pencarrow Stud.

Bred by Sir Peter Vela and Philip Vela, El Nahra is out of an unraced Sadler’s Wells mare Magical Moment (Sadler’s Wells) and is a half-brother to the winner of the Group 2 Rich Hill Mile Fears Nothing (Faltaat), who was also runner-up in the Group 1 Easter Handicap. He is also a half-brother to current Melbourne performer Correggio (Haradasun), the winner of five races.

His dam is a full-sister to Short Pause (Sadler’s Wells), winner of the Group 3 Longchamp Prix d’Hedouville, and is a three-quarter-sister to stakes-winner Interim (Sadler’s Wells), winner of the Group 2 Calder La Prevoyante Handicap, and is a half-sister to stakes-winners Cheyenne Dream (Dancing Brave), winner of the Listed Longchamp Prix de Bagatelle.