Lightly raced Pencarrow mare Branciforti (NZ) (Belardo) kicked off a new campaign in spectacular style with a bold front-running win in Saturday’s $40,000 Wanganui Motors and the Dyke Family (1600m) at Wanganui.

It was the first appearance in five months for Branciforti, who had raced on the Cambridge synthetic track through the winter and picked up a win and a placing from four starts between May and July.

She faced a very different assignment at Wanganui, stepping up to a high-quality Rating 75 on a Saturday and racing on Good4 turf. Branciforti was sent out as an overlooked $20 outsider, but she ran her rivals into the ground with a spectacular all-the-way performance.

Rider Sam Spratt put the handlebars down immediately after the gates opened, charging forward to take a clear lead. Branciforti led down the back straight at a strong pace, then had an opportunity to slow things down slightly around the side of the track before another sprint for home.

The challengers lined up to try to lodge their claims in the home straight, but Branciforti kept kicking and kept finding, holding them all at bay and winning by two lengths.

Branciforti has now had nine starts for three wins, a placing and $43,085 in stakes.

Branciforti was bred by Pencarrow Thoroughbreds Ltd and is raced by Sir Peter Vela. She is by Belardo out of Huluava (NZ) (Pins), who herself won three races and became an outstanding success in Pencarrow’s broodmare band.

All of Huluava’s nine foals to race have been winners, headed by William Wallace (NZ) (Darci Brahma), whose eight wins include the Listed Spring Classic (2000m) and Listed Timaru Cup (1600m).

Huluava is also the granddam of Pignan (NZ) (Staphanos), who added some Group One star power to the family with her win in the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) in April.

Branciforti is the final foal out of Huluava, whose pedigree page receives further boosts from her stakes-winning siblings Hasselhoof (NZ) (Tavistock) and Vercors (NZ) (Catbird).