After showing bright promise in her first three starts, up-and-coming Pencarrow mare Thalassa (NZ) (Ocean Park) took the next step in style at Pukekohe on Sunday.

The four-year-old had recorded a third and two fourths in her three previous appearances, including a fourth behind the subsequent Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m) placegetter Charms Star (NZ) (Per Incanto).

That promising form earned $4 favouritism for Thalassa in Sunday’s $10,000 Wharfe Bros 2100, and she lived right up to that billing.

Ridden by Danielle Johnson for trainers Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie, Thalassa raced in fifth along the rail before seizing her chance when a narrow gap opened at the top of the straight.

Thalassa powered through the inside and raced clear, winning by four and three-quarter lengths.

Thalassa has so far claimed four starts for a win, a third and two fourths,

Bred by Pencarrow and raced by Sir Peter Vela, Thalassa is by high-quality Waikato Stud stallion Ocean Park (NZ) out of unraced Pencarrow home-bred mare Cerberus (NZ) (O’Reilly).

Cerberus is out of Chimeara (Danehill), who was placed in the Group Three Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) and comes from the iconic Eight Carat family. She is out of the multiple Group One winner Tristalove (NZ) (Sir Tristram), who is also the dam of stakes winners Viking Ruler (Danehill), Lovetrista (Rock of Gibraltar), Kempinsky (Danehill) and Diamond Like (Danehill).

Chimeara is the dam of Group One Rosehill Guineas (2000m) winner De Beers (NZ) (Quest for Fame), while her unraced daughter Corinthia (NZ) (O’Reilly) is the dam of Pencarrow Racing’s current black-type performer Siracusa (NZ) (Sebring).

Cerberus has had four foals to race, with Thalassa becoming her third winner – joining two-race winners Silver Cloud (NZ) (Testa Rossa) and Suspense (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle).

Since producing Thalassa in 2016, Cerberus has had the unraced Pins three-year-old Heracles (NZ), followed by a Pins filly in 2018 and a Tivaci colt in 2019.