Promising three-year-old Naval Fleet (NZ) (Declaration of War) got Thursday’s Te Aroha race meeting off to the perfect start for the Pencarrow Racing team with victory in the $10,000 Grahamstown Bar & Diner 1200.

The filly had finished a close second in both of her first two starts, including behind the subsequent Group 2 winner Surely Sacred (NZ) (Rock ‘n’ Pop). In her only other start, she had the race won before dislodging her rider in the closing stages.

On Thursday Naval Fleet did everything right and cleared maiden grade with ease. Ridden by champion Sydney-based Kiwi jockey James McDonald, she went straight to the lead and never looked in any danger of defeat. She crossed the finish line a length and three-quarters clear.

Trained by Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie at Maungatautari, Naval Fleet has now had four starts for a win, two placings and $10,250 in prizemoney.

Naval Fleet was bred by Pencarrow Thoroughbreds Ltd and is raced by Sir Peter Vela.

She is out of the winning mare Navy Beach (NZ) (Darci Brahma), a three-quarter sister to stakes winner Don Garcia (NZ) (Danehill) and half-sister to Group 2 winner Te Akau Coup (NZ) (Thorn Park). Naval Fleet is her first foal to race and her first winner.

Navy Beach has subsequently produced a filly by Rip Van Winkle.