Genus with Opie Bosson up; the pair were in winning form at New Plymouth today
Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman have done a great job in developing Genus (Zabeel ex Meranti) as a staying three-year-old filly.
Her win today at New Plymouth came off the back of two excellent second placings at Te Rapa (1600m) and Hastings (1600m). She needed every bit of the 1800m today to score and there’s no doubt she’s now looking for the Oaks distance of 2400m.
The filly holds a nomination for the Wellfield-sponsored event in March and it’s a race Nearco Stud (owner of Genus) would dearly love to win, having had Quintessential run third in the race last year behind Artistic and Zurella.
Genus was passed in by Cambridge Stud at the 2011 Karaka Premier Sale. I later negotiated her purchase. At that time she was very correct, had perfect x-rays and a wonderful temperament. On the negative side was the fact that she clearly needed time; which is nearly always the case with any of the progeny of Zabeel.
Paul Pertab broke her in and she’s had numerous spells at his Matamata agistment farm between short preparations with Baker & Forsman.
It’s been a good week for Nearco Stud horses purchased by this agency. Last week Consummate (Fast ‘n’ Famous) won for Kevin & Pam Hughes at Ashburton in a Rating 75 over 1600m. Later that day Purpose (Falkirk) was the closest of seconds at the same meeting. I purchased both fillies at the 2010 Karaka Select Sale for Nearco Stud. It’s also the sale I secured Queensland Oaks winner Quintessential for Nearco.