The Pencarrow bred filly Adalia (Lucky Unicorn x Ajfan) showed that she has a bit to offer when she produced a good performance to break her maiden yesterday at Taupo in the $7,000 1800 metre maiden event, and provide Pencarrow Stud with its first winner of the new season.

At just her second raceday appearance, Adalia jumped from barrier 12 and jockey James McDonald elected to keep her at the tail of the field in transit. Stoked up by McDonald at the 600 metre mark, the four-year-old mare rounded the field and, in a tough performance, held off the fast-finishing True Light to win by half a head.

Trained by Jason Bridgman, the daughter of Lucky Unicorn was unplaced on debut last season when running over 1200 metres at Counties in June. The mare clearly relished the step up in distance to 1800 metres yesterday.

Bred by Peter and Philip Vela, Adalia is from the Group 1 placed Woodman mare Ajfan and is a half-sister to dual Sgp-2 winner and Singapore’s Champion 3YO Sprinter (2008) and Champion Older Stayer (2009 & 2010) Big Maverick (O’Reilly).

She is also a half-sister to stakes placed El Laoob (Red Ransom), dam of American Group 3 winner Pachattack (Pulpit) and American stakes winner La Mina (Mineshaft).

Ajfan’s yearling colt by Darci Brahma was purchased by Laurie Laxon from Pencarrow Stud for $70,000 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2012 Karaka Premier Sale. She produced a colt by Darci Brahma in 2011 and was served by Darci Brahma last season.