Saturday’s $50,000 Listed Christchurch Casino Spring Classic (2000m) at Riccarton produced a first stakes success for the highly talented Pencarrow Stud-bred William Wallace (NZ) (Darci Brahma).

Ridden by Sarah Macnab for trainer Adrian Bull, the eight-year-old made a dramatic move from last to hit the lead rounding the home turn. He fought strongly all of the way down the long Riccarton straight, repelling the challenge of favourite Communique (NZ) (Redwood) to win by a half-neck.

Passed in at the 2014 Premier Yearling Sale and a $40,000 purchase at the Ready to Run Sale later that year, William Wallace has now had 34 starts for seven wins, six placings and $174,392 in stakes.

William Wallace was bred by Pencarrow Stud’s Sir Peter and the late Philip Vela. He is by the multiple Group One winner and highly successful sire Darci Brahma (NZ), who himself was bred by Pencarrow.

The dam of William Wallace is Huluava (NZ) (Pins), a winning half-sister to the stakes winners Hasselhoof (NZ) (Tavistock) and Vercors (NZ) (Catbird). Vercors is also the dam of the Listed-placed Vichy (NZ) (Cape Blanco).

Huluava is the dam of six foals to race, all of them winners. William Wallace is the first stakes winner, while Monlula (NZ) (He’s Remarkable) finished fifth in this year’s Group One New Zealand Derby (2400m).

Huluava had a colt by Complacent in 2017, a filly by Turn Me Loose (NZ) in 2018 and a filly by Belardo in 2019.