Innovation (NZ) completed a marvellous season for The Oaks Stud owner Dick Karreman with a last-start victory in the LR Tauranga Classic.

Innovation (3f Keeper – Miss Grosvenor by Grosvenor) became the fourth NZ bred filly to win a stakes race carrying Karreman’s blue and white colours in 2011-12.

She follows G1 New Zealand Oaks winner Artistic (Darci Brahma), G2 Cambridge Stud Fillies Classic winner Zurella (Zabeel) and G2 City of Auckland Cup winner Single Minded (Bachelor Duke).

Innovation was due to join Artistic and Zurella in the New Zealand Oaks in March but jarred up after getting knocked down in the Desert Gold Stakes.  “We backed off and brought her back for wins at Ellerslie, Wanganui and Ellerslie again,” The Oaks manager Rick Williams said.  “It was no surprise to see her win at weight-for-age at Tauranga.  She was rock solid fit and won accordingly.”

Williams said Innovation is shaping into a smart racehorse.  “I have a lot of time for her mother Miss Grosvenor (Grosvenor).  She is from a very good family and has left some nice horses.”

Second dam Helen (Noble Bijou) is a half-sister to the dam of G1 Caulfield Cup winner Imposera (Imposing).  Third dam Helen of Troy (Sovereign Edition) was a black-type winner of the Welcome Stakes at Riccarton.

“Dick raced Miss Grosvenor for one win over 1600m in Australia,” Williams recalled.  “When he bought The Oaks, she ended up over here and I was quite happy to have her.

She had a couple of foals in Australia that did nothing.  Then came Miss Faberge (Ustinov) who won four races followed by Ballybit (Spartacus) who also won four.

“Fives A Diamond (Traditionally) was next and he won two but then bled.  Ballybit and Fives A Diamond had both sold well as yearlings.

“The next foal was Innovation and she has been to Keeper every year since, although she is not in foal at the moment.  It’s a lovely mating, not just because of the Danehill influence, but it has a good pattern, and a lot of good things in behind in the pedigree that I like.

“Her two-year-old sister has gone to Ralph Manning to be trained and the yearling colt is due to be broken in.  We will keep the weanling full sister as, like Innovation, she doesn’t have the best legs and we’ll send the mare back to Keeper this season.

“There are similarities with this family and that of Seachange (Cape Cross).  Sometimes you just need to be patient, and wait for your luck to change.  Just Cruisin – the dam of Seachange – was a little bit like Miss Grosvenor in that they had the family behind them but just needed the right mating and a bit of luck.
“Like Seachange we only kept Innovation because she would have been slaughtered at the sales with her crooked legs, and we know Ralph can manage horses that don’t have the best legs.  Sometimes you have to let nature take its course and give these horses a bit more time and you get results.

“I just had a feeling with her all the way along that she could produce the goods and every now and then you have to believe in your instinct.  I am glad I did as she has topped off a great season for the farm.”