A pair of well-bred Pencarrow Stud mares scored stylish maiden victories at Pukekura Raceway in New Plymouth on Thursday.

Maltese Ruby (NZ) (Darci Brahma), having her third start and her first in New Zealand, scored by three-quarters of a length in the $10,000 Comcat Supporting Life Education Trust Maiden (1200m). Two races later Trois Vallees (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) was a clear-cut winner of the $10,000 Revital Fertilisers Supporting Life Education Trust Maiden (1400m). The breakthrough win came in her fifth start.

Both mares are trained by Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie for owner-breeder Sir Peter Vela and were ridden to victory by last season’s champion apprentice Sam Weatherley.

Maltese Ruby is the first foal out of the Savabeel mare Scarlet Tiger (NZ), whose dam Tehama (NZ) (Centaine) was a Listed winner. Stakes winners in the immediate family include Lord Pyrus, Darcybee, Classic Walk and Durham Town.

Trois Vallees is out of the Listed winner Vercors (NZ) (Catbird), a half-sister to the star racehorse Hasselhoof (NZ) (Tavistock). The family also features the Group 1 winner Lord Ted (NZ) (Lord Ballina) and goes back to the famous ‘Belle’ family, founded by James and Annie Sarten and carried on by their daughter Marie Leicester.