Willing Geneva ready for Ruakaka test

[Wandering Eyes]

Highly regarded colt Geneva has passed every test with flying colours and is in the right order to continue that trend at Ruakaka.

An impressive winner on debut, he has again made all the right moves ahead of his first black type test in Saturday’s Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m).

“He’s just ticked all the boxes and done everything we’ve asked of him every step along the way, he hasn’t ever been under a ride yet so it’s all in front of him,” trainer Kylie Hoskin said.

“He’s such a kind horse and we kept him a colt because he was so quiet and I was worried that if we gelded him, he might turn into a kid’s pony.”

Bred and raced by Jomara Bloodstock, Geneva won two trials before he scored at the first time of asking at Te Rapa in May.

The son of Time Test was then given time off and has since had two further trials, winning the last of them at Taupo under race day rider Michael McNab to emphasise his readiness for Ruakaka.

“He’s ready to rock and roll and has done everything right, his trial at Taupo was very good so we’re all looking forward to Saturday,” Hoskin said.

“All going well, he’ll go to the three-year-old race on the first day at Ellerslie, he has trialled well there before.”

The Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) on September 6 is the race in question, with the Gr.2 Timespan Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) at Te Rapa three weeks later also on his program.

“We’ll reassess things after that to see where he goes next,” Hoskin said.

Stablemate Reinstatement will accompany Geneva to Ruakaka for the Harcourts Just Rentals (1600m) in a bid to continue her run of form on the course.

The Wrote mare won there two runs back and followed up with a solid last-start third.

“She was going to go to Ruakaka two weeks ago but had an abscess, she’s all clear now and ready to go,” Hoskin said.

“She only came to me this year and she’s been very consistent, although she’s a bit of a nerve- wracking watch as she gets back and then comes at them late.

“She tries really hard every time and Wiremu (Pinn) will be riding her on Saturday.

“He rode her at Ellerslie one time and gets on well with her, she has a lightweight (54kg) so should be competitive again.”

Hoskin also has two strong chances at Taupo on Sunday with Fun Never Sets to resume in The Oaks Stud (1200m) and the consistent With Grace in the Noverre @ Waikato Stud (1800m).

“Fun Never Sets trialled really well at Taupo a couple of weeks back, so we’ve elected to take her back, her trial was very good and so has her work since,” she said.

“I think she’ll be competitive and Sam Collett will be riding her.”

With Grace is overdue a major reward after placing in six of her last seven appearances.

“She has been a frustrating horse in that she doesn’t seem to want to break her maiden status, but she’s always right in it and Michael McNab thinks he can fix that,” Hoskin said.

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