Master Of Design 3yo Creative Genius will be given a Group 1 preparation after an amazing victory against older horses in New Zealand on Friday.

Creative Genius produced a paralysing finish to nail El Famoso by a nose at Dargaville.  Trainer Steven Cole has designs on the Group 1 Levin Classic for the Victorian-bred gelding who made up a minimum of four lengths in the final stages of the Carrfields Selwyn Rodgers Memorial (1400m).

“That will be a real confidence-booster,” Cole said.  “I gave him a freshen-up and added blinkers which helped today.  He’s a progressive horse and will keep improving when he steps up in distance.”

Creative Genius (3g Master Of Design – Beauriphul Gal by Bureaucracy) will now head to the LR Trevor Eagle Memorial (1500m) at Ellerslie on November 26.  It’s been a good guide in recent years with winners the calibre of Ocean Park and Rising Romance.

His long-term mission is the G1 Levin 3YO Classic (1600m) at Trentham on January 14.

Cole is stabled at Byerley Park in Karaka and he became the youngest trainer to prepare a Group 1 winner in New Zealand when Dukedom landed the G1 Levin Classic this year.

Creative Genius is a first-crop son of Swettenham Stud sire Master Of Design from an unraced sister to Flemington stakes winner Noircir.  He cost Cole $110,000 at last year’s NZB Ready to Run Sale.

“He’s an athlete and looked a good mover when breezing up before the Sale,” Cole recalled.  “It’s a long way to a Group 1 from here but Alysha (Collett) jumped off and said he’s still learning.”

Swettenham Stud stands Master Of Design (Redoute’s Choice) for a $15,000 (inc gst) service fee.

Watch Creative Genius win here