Master of Design 3yo Creative Genius will head to the Hawke’s Bay carnival after sharing a Victorian-bred quinella in NZ on Saturday.
Despite racing wide without cover on a Slow 7 surface, Creative Genius kept lifting to dead-heat with Toorak Tower (Toorak Toff) in the Tanalised Mile (1600m) at Ruakaka. The Steven Cole-trained gelding is fulfilling the potential he showed earlier this season when stakes-placed at Ellerslie.
It was another encouraging result for Greta West Stud sire Master Of Design following his late-season Australian winners Coco Gabrielle, Vladivostok, Swiss Design, Senor Gaudi & Jaminzah.
“That was a gutsy win. The other horse got a head in front but he wouldn’t lie down,” Cole revealed on Sunday morning. “Alysha (Collett) said he fought right through to the line.
“He’s pulled up well and will go to the paddock for a week. I’m setting him for two races over 1400m and 1600m at Hawke’s Bay. He will eventually get over 2000m on top of the ground but he’s not a heavy-track horse.”
Master of Design has sired the winners of 34 races in Australia this season to lead the Victorian second-season table ahead of Helmet (32), Moshe (28) & Toorak Toff (23).
Saturday also saw Greta West-bred mare Two Hills begin her stud career on a winning note just minutes after Creative Genius. Her first-starter Star Hills looked the real deal when he put three lengths on some smart youngsters in the Goldacres 2YO Plate (1002m) at Donald.
Star Hills (Magnus) is trained by Allen Browell at Bendigo for his wife Val and Horrie West. They also raced Two Hills for 7 wins in Melbourne and on the road from Swan Hill to Seymour.
Kabrocco (Kaphero) is another Greta West graduate heading to town after a last-start victory in the Winter Hcp (1000m) at Wagga. “He has a fair bit of ability and is going to develop into a really good sprinter,” trainer Dan McCarthy said. “The best is still ahead. In 12 months he will be a genuine city class horse.”
His dam Brocco Dancer (Brocco) was pensioned by Greta West owners Laurie & John McCarthy after she foaled a Keep The Faith colt last November. They retained her 2010 daughter Brocbel (Bel Esprit) and she delivered a Wanted filly last year.
Greta West’s Group 1 winner Le Romain (Hard Spun) is working towards another successful spring carnival with trainer Kris Lees. He was given an easy hit-out in a Wyong trial on Tuesday in advance of a return in the G2 Missile Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on August 5.
Born and raised at Greta West, Le Romain is owned by Sydney-based brothers Mark & Tony Carusi and the McCarthy brothers are rearing his weanling half-brother by Kuroshio.
Master Of Design (Redoute’s Choice) stands his first-season at Greta West for a $5,500 service fee this season alongside Keep The Faith ($3,300) and King Of Prussia ($2,200). All fees (inc gst).
CREATIVE GENIUS