Shortly after Ortensia was inducted to the Hunter Valley Hall Of Fame, her granddaughter Genzano became the first stakes-winner for Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich partnership in Saturday's Group III New Zealand Bloodstock Spring Stakes at Newcastle.
Ridden by Zac Lloyd, the 3-year-old daughter of Maurice (JPN) looked a class above her rival in defeating the Written Tycoon filly Kind Words by one and a quarter lengths with Fireburn's half-brother Kintyre (Hallowed Crown) a half-nek back in third.
"How fitting that a granddaughter of Ortensia would be my first Group winner," Gavranich said.
"I started as a trackwork rider, and progressed to foreman, travelling foreman, assistant trainer, and co-trainer; it has been a wonderful journey.
"She is something else, this horse. She still doesn't settle in the run very well. You have to go back and watch it, but that was a 20 out of 10 ride from Zac (Lloyd). He drew 11, there was a gap in the field, he rolled across and put her on the rail and almost put her to sleep.
"He knew she was going well, pushed out at the top of the straight, and probably went a little too soon, but it didn’t matter; she was off and gone.
“She has Ortensia’s head collar on. It is a lovely head collar that has been sitting in storage, so we rolled it out again.”
Ortensia had just two foals, both fillies, before her death.
A homebred for Arrowfield Stud and the Fraser family, Genzano is the first foal out of Ortensia’s unraced daughter, Infiorata (Dream Ahead).
After finishing second to the undefeated Burling at Tamworth in April, Genzano opened her 30-year-old campaign with a sixth in a super maiden at Muswellbrook before reeling off wins at Scone and Newcastle and has now banked $194,775 from her three wins.
Infiorata has a 2-year-old colt by Pariah, a yearling colt by Admire Mars (JPN) and was covered by Shalaa (IRE) last spring.
Genzano is the 23rd stakes-winner for Arrowfield Stud shuttler Maurice (JPN).
