Consistent Pencarrow mare Libretti (NZ) (Darci Brahma) collected the fourth win of her career with a gritty performance in the $11,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series 1600 at Otaki on Monday.

Rider Lisa Allpress dropped the six-year-old out to last in the seven-horse field, and she was still at the back rounding the home turn.

But Libretti sprinted strongly through an inside gap, dashing to the lead and holding out the challenge of Rosetta (NZ) (Pins) by a short head. The rest of the field finished another four lengths away.

Trained by Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie, Libretti has now had 26 starts for four wins, 11 placings and $41,900 in prizemoney.

Bred and raced by Sir Peter Vela, Libretti is one of five winners from eight foals to race out of the Centaine mare Boito Belle (NZ) – a half-sister to the Group 1 performer Winning Belle (NZ) (Zabeel).

Winning Belle’s daughter Plucky Belle (Mossman) was a Group 1 winner, taking out the Coolmore Classic in Sydney.

Another half-sister to Boito Belle, Our Ella Belle (NZ) (Encosta de Lago), was a Group 3 winner and placed in the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas. She produced an Exceed and Excel colt who sold for $750,000 at Karaka Book 1 last year.