Group One sire Rip Van Winkle (Galileo) produced his twenty-first stakes winner at the weekend when promising stayer Pendleton delivered an impressive performance to land the Dunedin Gold Cup over 2400m at Wingatui racecourse.

Continuing her recent improvement, 4YO Pendleton has now won four of her last six starts and produced an impressive turn of foot in the time-honoured event to win by two and a quarter lengths.

Co-trainer Shane Kennedy was delighted with Pendleton’s performance:

“She’s very promising and has progressed quickly over the last twelve months. She only won her maiden race in October so to take out a stakes race at just her ninth start is a top effort,” he said.

Pendleton will look to add further black-type to her resume in the New Zealand St Leger at Trentham next month.

Pendleton is the second stakes winner in the past month for Rip Van Winkle whose daughter Seraphim captured the Listed Marton Cup at Trentham in January.