Four-year-old Pencarrow mare Rock Rose (NZ) (Road to Rock) ended a long run of placings with her first career victory in the Mygrain Stockfeeds 1600 at Matamata today.

Ridden by Sam Weatherley for trainers Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie, Rock Rose raced in midfield and then came wide at the home turn to make her bid, racing away down the straight to win by two and three-quarter lengths.

The breakthrough win came at Rock Rose’s 10th career start, but she had previously recorded four second placings and two fifths.

Rock Rose was bred and raced by Sir Peter Vela in partnership with Laurie Laxon, the New Zealand expat who is a champion trainer in Singapore.

The bay mare is by Wellfield Stud stallion Road To Rock out of Clear Rose (NZ) (Deputy Governor) who was the joint top three-year-old filly of her year and won six races including the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas, the Group 2 Japan-New Zealand International Trophy and two other stakes events. She also placed in the Group 1 New Zealand Derby.

Clear Rose is now the dam of five winners from nine foals to race including the stakes-placed Bettws (NZ) (Zabeel). Her daughters have produced the likes of Australian Group 3 winner Bass Strait (NZ) (Holy Roman Emperor) and stakes performer Adolay (NZ) (Fast ‘N’ Famous).