12th winner for Beneteau

All eyes were on the fourth race at Pakenham on Tuesday for the debut of So You Think's two year-old half-brother Palaios and while he toiled greenly into fourth it was left to the Beneteau gelding Geoff to claim a stylish debut victory.

The Robbie Griffiths trained Geoff was tuned up with a recent Cranbourne barrier trial win and proved too nippy around the 1200 metres on the polytrack, dashing away to win by a couple of lengths.

A big athletic son of Medaglia D'Oro, the Brian Jenkins trained Palaios jumped well and parked just behind the leaders, but was left flat footed when they sprinted in the straight before working to the line in fourth place.

Palaios will be better over further on a bigger turf track, so there were positives to take from his experience if not the much desired victory.

Geoff was a bargain basement $10,000 purchase from the Three Bridges Thoroughbreds draft at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale Summer Book and is the fourth winner from four to race from Group III placed Danzero mare Granma Gertey.

He is the 12^th winner for Arrowfield's ill-fated Beneteau, who is now just one behind Rothesay on the leading first season sires list by winners.