Winning Week for Pencarrow and Super Seth

07 March 2025

An outstanding week for Pencarrow Stud and young stallion Super Seth ended on a winning note with Sprezzatura (NZ) at Te Aroha on Friday.

Sprezzatura’s victory in the $18,500 Saddlery Warehouse (2200m) came six days after the Pencarrow-bred Feroce (NZ) triumphed in the Group One Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington.

The Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray-trained Sprezzatura had the fifth start of her career in Friday’s maiden staying event. She was ridden by Kelly Myers and enjoyed a comfortable run in second beside the rail, trailing the front-running Kaimai Warrior (NZ) (Tarzino).

Sprezzatura moved up on the outside of that rival, putting some pressure on just before the home turn. She shook free of Kaimai Warrior in the straight and went on to win by a length and a quarter.

Sprezzatura’s five-race career has now produced a win, a third, a fourth and a fifth, and she has earned $13,945. She was bred by Pencarrow Thoroughbreds and is raced by Sir Peter Vela.

Sprezzatura is by Waikato Stud stallion Super Seth, whose oldest progeny are three-year-olds. He was New Zealand’s leading first-season sire in 2023-24 and heads the second-season standings in 2024-25. Sprezzatura became his 28^th winner, joining a group that also includes black-type stars Feroce, La Dorada (NZ), Sethito (NZ), Linebacker (NZ), Poetic Champion (NZ) and Super Photon (NZ).

The dam of Sprezzatura is Sopra Tutto (NZ), whose daughters Supera (NZ) (Savabeel) and Eleonora (NZ) (Makfi) were both Group winners and Group One placegetters. Eleonora has herself produced the stakes winner Ethereal Star (Snitzel).

The unraced Sopra Tutto is a daughter of Pencarrow legend Ethereal (NZ) (Rhythm), who won four Group One races including the Caulfield Cup (2400m) and Melbourne Cup (3200m) and is dam or granddam of numerous stakes performers.

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Kiwi Studs Celebrate Feroce’s Guineas Crown

04 Mar 2025

Feroce’s stunning Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m) victory was celebrated in several of New Zealand’s most prominent stud farms over the weekend.

Bred by Pencarrow Stud, Feroce was narrowly beaten by Private Life in the Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) back in October, but there was no denying the gelding at Flemington on Saturday, outmuscling fellow Kiwi-bred colt Savaglee to take the three-year-old feature by three-quarters of a length.

Leon Casey, stud manager at Pencarrow, was thrilled to see the gelding earn his redemption after such a narrow miss at Caulfield.

“It was a massive thrill, he’d just been beaten in the Caulfield Guineas and you’re never sure whether you’re going to get into that position again, to win a Group One race,” he said.

McKeever hails Kiwi-bred Feroce’s Guineas Triumph

03 Mar 2025

The feeling of seeing sale-ring purchases go on to stardom on the racetrack is nothing new for Johnny McKeever, but the respected European bloodstock agent took special satisfaction from Feroce’s triumph in the Gr.1 Howden Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.

“Another special aspect of this story is that Feroce was bred by Sir Peter Vela. I’m very fond of Sir Peter. He’s been up to Newmarket a lot and we’ve got to know each other well.”

Australian Guineas Glory for Pencarrow-bred Feroce (NZ)

03 Mar 2025

Pencarrow Stud’s proud history of breeding and raising Group One winners gained a new chapter on Saturday when Feroce (NZ) (Super Seth) triumphed in the prestigious A$1m Group One Howden Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington.

Feroce is a graduate of the 2023 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka, where he was offered by Kilgravin Lodge. He was bought for $160,000 by McKeever Bloodstock Ltd and Sutton Racing. Feroce has now had nine starts for three wins, three placings and A$1.3m in stakes.

Corinthia is the dam of three foals to race, all of them winners. Feroce is the second of her foals to win at stakes level, joining the Listed Karaka Classic (1600m) winner and multiple Group Two placegetter Siracusa (NZ) (Sebring).

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