Pencarrow Stud graduate Bordeaux (High Chaparral x Our Echezeaux), showed tremendous fighting qualities when winning the Rating 75 $22,500 Ladies Day 13 Feb 2016 (2100m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Starting from barrier five with Michael McNab aboard, Bordeaux relaxed beautifully and settled just behind the pacemaker Crimson Prince (NZ) (Sakhee’s Secret). Challenging the lead on the final bend, Bordeaux overtook the pacemaker with 200m to run, and withstood the late bursts from Chenille (NZ) (Pentire) and Blue Flag (NZ) (Raise The Flag). The winning time was 2:08.29.

Bordeaux was purchased at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2013 Premier Sale from Pencarrow Stud’s draft by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis for $620,000.

Raced by the Te Akau 2013 Breeding Syndicate, Bordeaux is trained by Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards, and has won four of his nine starts with earnings of $32,310.

“He really has improved this preparation, and there’s still more to come. He’s a good staying prospect. Bordeaux will have one more run before our main aim, the Listed New Zealand St Leger (2500m) at Trentham on 19 March. He’s from a family that keeps producing quality race horses,” said Richards.

Ellis has had great success with the family having purchased and raced Darci Brahma (NZ) (Danehill), the winner of five Group 1 races, at the 2004 Karaka Premier Sale for $1.1m. Ellis also purchased Burgundy (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice), for $1.3m at the 2010 Karaka Premier Sale, a winner of five stakes races.

Bred by Sir Peter Vela and Philip Vela, Bordeaux is out of the Pencarrow Stud mare Our Echezeaux (Zabeel), a full-sister to Grand Echezeaux (Zabeel), winner of the Group 1 Australasian Oaks, and is a three-quarter-sister to stakes-winner Romanee Conti (Sir Tristram), the dam of Group 1 Melbourne and Caulfield Cup winner Ethereal (Rhythm).

His half-brother, by unbeaten champion Frankel, was the top selling lot at NZB’s National Yearling Sale Series at Karaka, who was offered by Pencarrow Stud and purchased by an international consortium for $1.3 million.