A close relative to last weekend’s Group One Australian Guineas (1600m) winner Feroce (NZ) (Super Seth), promising Pencarrow filly Island Life (NZ) (Vadamos) capped a big week for the family with victory in Saturday’s $150,000 Group Three Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase (2100m) at Ellerslie.

Island Life is out of the unraced Lycia (NZ) (Montjeu), whose half-sister Corinthia (NZ) (O’Reilly) is Feroce’s dam.

The Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie-trained Island Life has shown plenty of ability in her own right. She is now the winner of two of her seven starts, placing in another three and earning $208,425.

Island Life ran a close second to Tuxedo (NZ) (Tivaci) in the Group Three Wellington Stakes (1600m) in November and third behind Real Class (NZ) (Vadamos) in the Group Two Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) on New Year’s Day. Saturday was her day in the black-type spotlight.

Island Life and jockey Michael Dee settled in second as chief rival Eye Candy (NZ) (Darci Brahma) was able to control the race from the front. But Island Life moved forward to challenge the leader at the home turn and soon asserted her superiority, pulling ahead to win by a length.

Dee believed Saturday’s performance warranted a shot at the $1m Group One Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham on March 22.

“She’s not big, but she’s very tough and tries hard, which is what she has going for her,” the Melbourne-based jockey said. “I was pleased when she ended up outside the leader. She relaxed really well and when I gave her a squeeze up, I got pretty confident a long way out.

“The extra distance of the Oaks could be a question mark, but she is very tough and is going in the right direction, so you have to have a go while she is going well.”

Ramsay and Ritchie will take their time to make a decision on that Trentham assignment, but were pleased to deliver a Pencarrow victory on the inaugural $8.2m Champions Day at Ellerslie.

“To do this for Sir Peter Vela on this incredible day just feels unbelievable,” Ritchie said. “She is pretty awkward and it has taken a little while to work her out, but Michael gave her a peach of a ride today. I’m just so proud of her. She ground it out and finished it off so well.

“We will see how she comes through this before we make a decision on Trentham, because she can be a little quirky, but she relaxed today which was great.”

Island Life is the best of four winners from five foals to race out of Lycia, who is a half-sister to the Group One Rosehill Guineas (2000m) winner De Beers (NZ) (Quest For Fame).