Good looking colt Geneva (NZ) (Time Test) looked to have a bright future for owners Jomara Bloodstock as he powered home to make a winning debut in the Direct Fats & Oils 2YO (1100m) at Te Rapa.
The Kylie Hoskin-prepared son of Time Test came into the contest off the back of three trials, two of which he won including the last at Ruakaka over 1050m last month.
Despite plenty of confidence in the Hoskin camp and from rider Kelly Myers, Geneva was somewhat overlooked by punters as he started at an $8 Fixed Odds quote behind race winner Lubeck (Hanseatic) ($2.10) and another debutant in Kusuda Rush (Xtravagent) ($5).
Myers had her mount away nicely from an inside barrier (3) and settled comfortably in fifth as Al Azhar (NZ) (US Navy Flag) and Lubeck set up a steady pace.
Lubeck quickly took control inside the 300m but Geneva moved quickly alongside out wider and gradually drew clear from Lubeck to win comfortably by a length with Kusuda Rush making nice ground along the rail for third.
Hoskin was delighted her charge could deliver on the promise he had shown the stable.
“He has done everything right at the trials, we really like him and have always rated him,” Hoskin said.
“To see him come out and do it like that, especially against a filly who I think is very good, is just great to see.
“This is my first horse for Jomara Bloodstock and it is a great way to get things started.”
Hoskin is looking forward to watching her charge develop as she looks towards his three-year-old season.
“It’s so nice it is a good track here today as it makes it much easier to plot a path for him going into the Spring,” she said.
“We will be springing out of bed pretty easily now.”
Myers was also suitably impressed but admitted she had been full of confidence beforehand.
“He is a lovely horse with a really good attitude,” she said.
“He took everything in his stride and you would have thought he had been out there one hundred times.
“He didn’t get away super clean but was very professional in running and when I asked him, he really stretched out.
“I thought he was paying good money based on his trials and when I saw him today, I was delighted.
“He has plenty of scope about him and you could see him in some of those better three-year-old races.”
Bred by the Carter family under their Jomara Bloodstock banner, Geneva is out of Pierro mare Charli Rose (NZ) who is a daughter of stakes placed mare La Scala (NZ) (Bahhare), a half sister of dual Group One winner Final Destination (NZ) (O’Reilly).
He is also closely related to Listed Anzac Mile (1600m) winner Mr Mojo Risin (NZ) (Deep Field) who also races in the Jomara Bloodstock colours.