Kylie Hoskin has had a frustrating season with her promising three-year-old Geneva, but he made it all worthwhile when running third in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on Champions Day.

“I am absolutely rapt, it was awesome,” Hoskin said. “That was my first runner in a Group One so to get the third placing I was over the moon.”

However, the race wasn’t without its frustrations, with race winner Road To Paris shifting inwards in the concluding stages, causing interference with placegetters Autumn Glory and Geneva, and while jockey George Rooke was suspended for 12 meetings and imposed a $10,000 fine, the placings stood.

“There was obviously that bit of interference in the straight when he was coming up to them, which was unfortunate, but I am still really happy that he was able to switch ground, pick up again and keep trying,” Hoskin said.

“Ben (Thompson, jockey) rode him a treat, he got him into a really nice position and got him travelling nicely. He said he was still quite strong, because it has been a problem with him not settling, but I thought Ben did a great job with him.”

Geneva, who was bred and is raced by Jomara Bloodstock, won his only start as a juvenile but has taken his connections on a frustrating ride as a three-year-old, winning just one and place in another of his of his previous nine starts this season.

“He has been really frustrating,” Hoskin said. “If it is not a weather event it is a bad draw or a bad ride, nothing seems to go his way. At times he hasn’t helped himself either, but the ability is there, he has just got to put it all together.”

While a decision has yet to be made on Geneva’s immediate future, Hoskin hasn’t ruled out crossing the Tasman to tackle some feature three-year-old races.

“He left a couple of handfuls of feed this morning, but he seemed pretty bright and happy, and nice and sound, so all signs point to him coming through it great,” Hoskin said.

“I haven’t spoken with connections yet and we are still soaking in yesterday, so I am not sure what his next steps will be.

“Nothing is out of the realm of possibility. The Derby is what we had been working towards and I hadn’t looked further than that. He looks like he will stay well and Ben said that distance was definitely not a problem.”

Later on the card, Hoskin picked up another runner-up result courtesy of Transaction in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Final (1400m).

“She went super but was unfortunately on the rail and just got shuffled back in the running,” Hoskin said.

“Ben gave her a really good ride, he made smart decisions. Instead of waiting for luck, he slotted her back and went out and around them to give himself space. Once she got room she was really hitting the line strong.

“She has just gone from strength to strength this prep. She is really tough and honest and tries really hard.

“She will like a bit of cut out of the ground and she goes either way, so we are just going to have a look around. Obviously getting some black-type for the fillies is great, but we will probably look at a (rating) 75 mile for her somewhere and go from there.”

Hoskin was delighted to get a couple of nice results on Champions Day, and the South Auckland horsewoman was rapt with the turnout oncourse for New Zealand’s biggest day in racing.

“It was such an amazing day – the crowd, the atmosphere, the racing – it was really super,” she said. “There is nothing better than looking up and seeing those grandstands chocka."