Four-year-old Pencarrow mare Floating Heart (NZ) (Encosta De Lago) cleared maidens in style with a dominant victory in the $7,000 Whangarei ITM 1400 at Ruakaka on Wednesday.

Ridden by Vinnie Colgan for trainers Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs, Floating Heart raced well back in the field before lengthening stride smartly down the straight and drawing away to win by a length.

The breakthrough win came at the third time of asking for Floating Heart, who had run third and fourth in her two previous starts.

Floating Heart is bred and raced by Sir Peter Vela, who was on course at Ruakaka on Wednesday to see the win.

“It’s always nice to win a race,” Sir Peter said. “She’s not been the easiest to get to the winners’ circle but she did it nicely today. I’m very happy with her. She’s a beautifully bred filly and it’s nice to get on the board.”

Floating Heart is the first foal to race out of the Red Ransom mare Amaryllis (NZ), who carried the Pencarrow blue and white hoops to eight wins including the Gr. 3 Darley Plate.

Amaryllis is out of Lafleur (NZ) (Zabeel) who won the Group 2 Royal Stakes and Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic in an exceptional three-year-old season.