If there is an award for leading breeder of the 2010 Queensland winter racing carnival then New Zealand’s Highview Stud would be a prime contender.

Saturday’s racing at Eagle Farm enhanced Highview’s sensational record at the winter carnival when brilliant racemare Wealth Princess was runner-up in the G1 Winter Stakes and the smart up-and-comer Pennacchio was a superb winner of the Listed Centenary Classic Mile.

Wealth Princess (4m San Luis – Wealth Star by Senor Pete) confirmed her reputation as one of the best sprinters to be produced in New Zealand in recent years with her terrific effort to beat all but the leading Australian filly Melito.

Bred by Victor Ngai at Highview, Wealth Princess made up a huge ground in the closing stages after coming from second to last position at the half-mile.  “It was a huge effort,” trainer Brent Gillovic said.  “The Aussies really rate her and in particular they are well aware of her devastating turn of foot.  She is just so tough and gutsy and doesn’t know how to run a bad race.”

Wealth Princess was a G3 winner of the Glenlogan Park Stakes at Doomben in May and the Winter Stakes was her last start for Gillovic.  She will now be prepared by Lee Freedman for Sean Buckley who also raced G1 winning mare Miss Andretti.

The Andrew Scott-trained Pennacchio registered her second Listed race win of the Brisbane carnival when she powered home to an exciting victory in the Centenary Classic Mile.  She was coming off a Listed win in the Spear Chief Handicap at Eagle Farm on June 5.

The five-year-old was bred by Highview Stud and has risen to new heights in her career in Brisbane.  She is the sixth individual stakes winner for Align who stands at Highview Stud.

Pennacchio (5m Align – Abenezra by Rory’s Jester) has won 8 of her 16 starts and is now headed for the Tattersalls Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm on July 24.  Both Wealth Princess and Pennacchio were stabled at the property of NZ couple Alan and Linda Jones who are now based in Queensland.

The Hombre (3g Lucky Owners – Atlanta Belle by Defensive Play), who was bred by the Hong Kong Breeders Club at Highview, also recorded a G3 success during the carnival when he won the Rough Habit Plate on protest at Doomben on May 15.  He followed up with a second placing in the G3 Grand Prix Stakes.

Zevada (4g Don Eduardo – Springtime Romance by Last Tycoon) was another Highview Stud-bred winner.  He was an impressive winner of a Class 6 event at Eagle Farm on June 5.