Seventh and fifth in her two previous starts, Pencarrow’s progressive three-year-old Aequus (NZ) (Iffraaj) took another step forward and cleared maiden grade at Cambridge on Wednesday.

The filly stepped out as one of the favourites for the $14,000 Cambridge Grains 1300 and did not disappoint. Positioned in seventh and three off the rail by jockey Craig Grylls, she began to improve her position coming up to the home turn.

Swooping up into third at the top of the straight, Aequus then came home over the top of Rightly So (NZ) (El Roca) and Radrada (NZ) (Derryn) to score a comfortable half-length win.

Trained by Te Akau Racing’s Mark Walker, Aequus has now had three starts for one win, earning $8,400 in stakes.

Aequus was bred by Pencarrow Thoroughbreds Ltd and races in the famous blue and white hoops of owner Sir Peter Vela.

She is by the former high-quality Haunui Farm shuttle stallion Iffraaj out of the More Than Ready mare Equanimity (NZ).

Herself a two-time winner on the racetrack, Equanimity is a daughter of Pencarrow’s Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) winner Insouciant (NZ) (Keeper). She is also closely related to another two winners of that Riccarton fillies’ classic – Dorabella (NZ) (Postponed) and Media Sensation (I Am Invincible).

Aequus is Equanimity’s third winner from three foals to race. Her older siblings Winston (NZ) (Press Statement) and Harmony Reigns (NZ) (Iffraaj) have won two races each.

Since Aequus was born in the spring of 2019, Equanimity has produced the unraced two-year-old filly Tranquila (NZ) (Iffraaj) and has a weanling colt by Brutal (NZ). She was served by Hello Youmzain last spring.