A few days out from the official start of the new season on August 1, the busy foaling period at Pencarrow Stud sprung to life over the weekend with the arrival of the season’s first foal.

The colt was born at 1.11am on Sunday morning. He is by Ardrossan and is the first foal out of Ginsburg (NZ) (Iffraaj). The colt was bred by Pencarrow principal Sir Peter Vela in partnership with Dame Lowell Goddard. That pair also co-bred and share ownership of Ginsburg.

“It was a good foaling by a maiden mare, and she has taken to being a mother very well,” Pencarrow Stud manager Leon Casey said.

“He’s a really nice foal – very correct, good size and a strong bay – and he’s doing everything right so far. It’s all looking very optimistic at this stage and it’s a good way to start the season.”

The colt’s sire Ardrossan is an emerging talent among New Zealand stallion ranks. Standing at Waikato Stud, his service fee has risen from $6000 in 2022 to $10,000 in 2023 and $20,000 in 2024. Ardrossan has so been credited with 17 winners from 41 runners, including stakes winners Codigo (NZ), Beau Dazzler (NZ), Loch Katrine (NZ) and Saltcoats (NZ).

Ginsburg, meanwhile, is by Iffraaj out of the High Chaparral mare La Adelita (NZ), who is a half-sister to the Group One-placed Rocanto (NZ) (Per Incanto). Ginsburg’s second dam Romantic Liaisons (NZ) (Danasinga) is a half-sister to the dam of Australian Group One winner Reigning To Win (King Of Kings).

Ginsburg herself had 11 starts for a win, a third and two fourths while racing from the Cambridge stable of Andrew Forsman.

Sunday’s new arrival is the first of many, with several more members of Pencarrow’s broodmare band – which numbers over 60 – due to foal over the coming weeks.