Gentian Blue’s latest success may have earned her an early crack at a black-type feature.
The daughter of Westbury Stud resident Reliable Man was a stylish winner in Rating 65 company over 1400 metres at Ellerslie on Saturday to have trainer Maxim Van Lierde considering a step up in grade.
“We’ll get her home and see how she comes through the race, but she may go down to Wellington for the Cuddle Stakes (G3, 1600m),” he said.
Gentian Blue has responded well to patient handling and was given a lengthy spell after finishing fourth at her second outing at Hastings during the winter and successfully resumed at New Plymouth last month.
The grey settled well off the pace at Ellerslie before working in the clear 350 metres from home and unwound powerfully for rider Masa Hashizume to reel in her rivals.
“That was a massive thrill for the whole team. She got shuffled back a bit and I had told Masa just to be patient, she’s got a good sprint,” said Van Lierde, who owns the four-year-old with wife Samantha.
“She’s got a very laid-back nature and we’ve taken our time with her and I think there’s plenty more in store.”
Gentian Blue is a daughter of the Thorn Park mare Emma’s Choice, who is out of a half-sister to the two-time Group 1 winer Ray’s Hope.
Reliable Man also enjoyed success at Wingatui where his daughter The Grey Goose romped home while associate sire Swiss Ace’s son Karaka Kiwi triumphed at Morphettville.
The Grey Goose produced a terrific performance to win the Southern Mile Final for trainer Jo-Ann Gordon and rider Kylie Williams.
The grey four-year-old came from last in the running to advance her record to four wins and three placings from 12 appearances.
“We did get a long way off them at one stage, but I could feel I had plenty of horse under me and when I asked her, she kept coming,” Wiliams said.
“They went pretty hard up front and that suited her as I could ask her to roll into it just when I wanted.”
The Grey Goose is a daughter of the unraced Sakhee’s Secret mare Out Of The Barn, who is from the family of the G3 BTC Classic winner and multiple Group 1 performer Stryker.
The Gerry Harvey-bred Karaka Kiwi continued his rich run of form for trainer and part-owner Jordan Frew where he added to his record with victory over 1950 metres.
The son of Swiss Ace has now won two of his last seven starts and has yet to finish out of the top four this preparation.
“He’s a nice horse and very honest and I was hoping that when I got him out to this trip that he’d show his talent,” Frew said.
A $45,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale purchase, Karaka Kiwi is a true-blue Westbury product with his dam Secluded a daughter of former stud resident Postponed from the family of multiple Group 1-winning sprinter Bentley Biscuit.
Secluded has an unraced juvenile sister to Karaka Kiwi, an El Roca yearling and is in foal to Tarzino.