Promising Pencarrow filly Siracusa (NZ) (Sebring) cleared maiden grade at her second attempt with a stylish performance in Tuesday’s $10,000 Te Aroha Tractors & Machinery (1400m) at Te Aroha.

A close fourth on debut at Avondale last month, the three-year-old filly took a big step forward on Tuesday in her trip to the races.

Ridden by Sam Collett for trainers Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie, she kicked away from a talented line-up of three-year-olds to win by a length and a quarter.

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

She is by the top-class Australian sire Sebring, while her unraced dam Corinthia (NZ) (O’Reilly) is a half-sister to the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m) winner De Beers (NZ) (Quest For Fame).

Corinthia is also a blood sister to the Group 3-placed Lovetessa (NZ) (O’Reilly).

Siracusa’s second dam is Chimeara (NZ) (Danehill), who placed at Group 3 level. Her siblings include Group 1 winner and sire Viking Ruler (Danehill), and stakes winners and Group 1 placegetters Lovetrista (Rock of Gibraltar), Kempinsky (Danehill) and Diamond Like (Danehill).

Third dam Tristalove (NZ) (Sir Tristram) was a dual Group 1 winner from the legendary Cambridge Stud family of Eight Carat (Pieces of Eight).