Today’s runnaway victory by Provocative (Zabeel ex Betwixt, by O’Reilly) in the Treasury Casino Queensland Oaks-Gr.1 (2400m) today is very special on so many levels.
It is Nearco Stud’s first Group One winner and it’s come in a short span of time with Greg Tomlinson’s breeding operation only in its’ sixth year of operation.
It’s special too because of the close connection Nearco has with Gordon Cunningham’s Curraghmore Stud, the farm where Provocative was born and raised and later sold through their consignment at the Karaka Premier Sale.
And I can’t overlook the special milestone of the Group One victory for Zabeel who now draws level with his own Super Sire dad, Sir Tristram on the score of individual elite level winners.
I purchased Provocative’s mum Betwixt at the 2010 Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale for Nearco Stud. She was carrying a positive test to Fastnet Rock at the time and she cost A$240,000.
We sold the Fastnet Rock colt (‘Longbeach’) at Karaka and the second foal by Red Giant (‘Realta’) there as well.
Provocative was the third foal and a magnificent filly by Zabeel. A fabulous judge in Paul Moroney found her & went to $250,000. We were delighted with the price and knew that the filly would be given an outstanding opportunity when news came through that she would be trained by Tony Pike.
The downside is that we lost Betwixt and, sadly, she was carrying a Makfi foal at the time.
The Queensland Oaks will forever hold special meaning for Nearco Stud. Quintessential won the race when carrying the colours of Nearco Stud in 2012 and it was our first Group One racetrack winner. Now the historic Eagle Farm race has provided Nearco with it’s first Group One winner as a breeder.
Provocative as a yearling, part of Curraghmore Stud's 2014 NZB Karaka Premier Sale consignment