Three-year-old filly Passiflora (NZ) (Farnan) showed promise at the trials and transferred that potential into raceday success when scoring on debut in the NZ Horse Ambulance 970 at Cambridge on Wednesday.
The daughter of Farnan had won a 850m trial at Te Awamutu a fortnight ago and was backed into a $4.70 favourite second favourite on Wednesday behind fellow debutant Zivou (NZ) (Bivouac).
From her wide draw, Passiflora was sent forward early by jockey Jasmine Fawcett and wrestled the lead off Remember Ferrando (NZ) (Ferrando) and took control of the race from the 600m.
She had opened a margin on her rivals when turning for home, but Zivou was taking chase and closing fast, however, Passiflora didn’t falter and scored a 1-1/4 length victory, much to the delight of trainers Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie.
“I am really rapt with that,” Ramsay said. “She drew the outside and we were a wee bit worried, but the other plan was to go to Taranaki on Saturday and that is going to be a Heavy10.
“She has got a fair bit of speed this filly and it was a very good effort from the outside gate. I think she is going to get better and better. She rails like a greyhound, she is not overly big, but she has got a tonne of speed.”
Fawcett rode Passiflora in her trial and she was delighted to stay aboard to collect the winning cheque on debut.
“Rambo (Ramsay) contacted me and he said he had a filly for me to ride at the trials that I would get along with,” she said. “You just let her do what she wants and she has got a lot of speed.
“She showed today that she has got a bit of ability, so I am quite happy with her.”
Bred by Pencarrow Stud and raced by farm principal Sir Peter Vela, Passiflora is out of Lilikoi (NZ), who won the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) and placed in the Gr.2 Royal Stakes (2000m), and Ramsay believes she is capable of reaching the same heights as her dam.
“She is out of a nice enough mare who won a Eulogy,” he said. “She is not overly big but has still got a bit of upside still.”
