FlexThe blue and white colours of Pencarrow Racing are likely to be seen in feature three-year-old company this summer after an impressive audition by Island Life (NZ) (Vadamos) at Tauranga on Saturday.

Island Life went into the $25,000 Saddlery Warehouse Cambridge & Tauranga Maiden (1600m) with only one previous start under her belt, where she stormed home to finish second over 1400 metres at Pukekohe on October 16.

The step up to 1600 metres on Saturday looked ideal for Island Life, and so it proved. Boxed in along the rail and then held up for a run in the straight, jockey Sam Spratt found a way through and Island Life took care of the rest. She burst to the lead with an explosive turn of foot in the final 100 metres, powering ahead to win by a length and three-quarters.

“There were a few nervous moments there,” said Steven Ramsay, who trains in partnership with Julia Ritchie. “She ended up on the fence and got held up and stopped in her tracks at the furlong. To come through and win was a pretty good effort.

“The way she exploded like that in the straight was good to see. She could be a 2000-metre stakes filly around Christmas time, and then maybe a bit further than that as well. She’s by Vadamos out of a Montjeu mare, so she should be able to step up over a bit more ground.

“We’ll get her home now, see how she comes through this and then see what happens.”

Island Life’s two-start career has now produced a win and a second, earning $19,000 in stakes. She was bred by Pencarrow Thoroughbreds Ltd and is raced by Sir Peter Vela.

Island Life is by Rich Hill Stud stallion Vadamos, whose southern hemisphere crops have produced 96 winners from 182 runners, including multiple Group One winner La Crique (NZ) and stakes winners Devastate (NZ), Art De Triomphe (NZ) and Grace’s Secret (NZ).

The dam of Island Life is the unraced Lycia (NZ) (Montjeu), whose half-brother De Beers (NZ) (Quest For Fame) won the Group One Rosehill Guineas (2000m) and was runner-up in the Group One Australian Derby (2400m). Lycia is also a half-sister to Corinthia (NZ) (O’Reilly), who is the dam of last month’s Group One Caulfield Guineas (1600m) runner-up Feroce (NZ) (Super Seth) as well as stakes winner Siracusa (NZ) (Sebring).

Island Life is one of four winners from five foals to race out of Lycia. She is also the dam of two-race winner Flex (NZ) (Zabeel) and winners Narince (NZ) (Burgundy) and Balios (NZ) (Shamexpress).