The fifth of five broodmares to have left the winners of over one hundred and fifty races, Vain Franco (154) several of whom raced in Australia and North America.
VAIN FRANCO (1987 Holmes Hanover/Van Glory; family of McDonalds Rothschild mare, CF N30) : unraced; seventeen live foals, thirteen raced, eleven winners, six in 1:57, three in 1:52, three $100k earners. Bred by Addington Breeding Ltd & Co (Nevele R/Fay Richwhite partnership) and progeny bred by Graham Pearson and/or Jeremy Tulley apart from Vogue Franco (Franco Breeding Ltd).
| DOB | FOAL/WINS BY LOCATION | NZ | AU | NA | G/T | MR | $ ** |
| 1991 | Vogue Franco (f Andrel) | 3 | – | – | 3 | 2:00.8 | 20,894 |
| 1993 | Rumadrum (g Smooth Fella) | – | 16 | – | 16 | 2:00.5 | 87,965 |
| 1994 | Under Cover Lover (f In The Pocket) | 12 | 6 | 3 | 21 | 1:51.4US | 864,923 |
| 1996 | Cybersleuth (g In The Pocket) | – | 10 | 20 | 30 | 1:52.0US | 195,071 |
| 1999 | Monarch Of The Glen (g In The Pocket) | 6 | 4 | – | 10 | 1:59.9 | 53,851 |
| 2000 | Hallelujah (g Life Sign) | – | 2 | – | 2 | 2:03.6 | 11,800 |
| 2002 | Delizioso (f In The Pocket) | 4 | – | – | 4 | 1:56.6TT | 30,960 |
| 2003 | CC’s Lover (g Christian Cullen) | – | 10 | 43 | 53 | 1:51.1US | 331,115 |
| 2005 | But But But (g In The Pocket) | 1 | 4 | – | 5 | 1:55.8 | 29,575 |
| 2006 | Pedro Carrington (g In The Pocket) | 3 | – | – | 3 | 2:04.4 | 15,455 |
| 2008 | Charm Alarm (f Bettors Delight) | – | 7 | – | 7 | 1:56.7 | 57,519 |
| Totals : | 29 | 59 | 66 | 154 | $1.7M+ |
** Conversion: $US1=$A1=$NZ1
Graeme Pearson and Jeremy Tulley purchased Vain Franco as a five year old when Addington Breeding Ltd dispersed in 1992. They successfully bred several In The Pocket brothers and sisters from Vain Franco together with CC’s Lover from his son Christian Cullen. Vain Franco received the NZ Breeders Broodmare of Excellence Award in 2014.
Her male progeny included :
Rumadrum, sixteen NSW wins (8 HP/1 Menangle), NSW Spring Gift, 2:00.5AUS, $87,965
Cybersleuth, winner of ten races, seven VIC, VIC Eastern Grand Slam – 3/three WA at Gloucester Park including third night of 2004 ID’s driven by Anthony Butt. Exported to North America where winner of twenty races, 1:52.0US, total earnings $195,071
Monarch Of The Glen, winner of six in NZ including Wanganui/Rotorua Cups and four in Australia, one Moonee Valley, 1:59.9AUS, $53,851
CC’s Lover, won ten races in Victoria, one each Moonee Valley and Melton, best MR of 1:59.0AUS before export to North America where he won forty three races with a best performance of 1:51.1US. Three hundred and two starts in Australia/North America yielded fifty three wins and stake earnings of $331,115
But But But, one NZ/four AUS wins (one VIC/two NSW, one Menangle and one WA, Gloucester Park), 1:55.8AUS, $29,575
Vain Franco’s fillies included :
Vogue Franco, first foal, winner of three, two at Alexandra Park, 2:00.8, $20,894; dam of eleven foals, six raced for five winners including Vogue Falcon, winner of eleven in NSW, eight Harold Park, 1:59.1AUS, $69,725; Bubbles And Bling, nineteen WA wins, six Gloucester Park, 1:57.2AUS, $148,591, WA Western Crown – 2; Dreamaway Vogue, four NZ/three VIC wins, 1:59.9AUS, $53,054
Under Cover Lover, international globe-trotting mare, 1:51.4US, $864,923, winner of twelve races in NZ (six Alexandra Park, three Addington), Caduceus Club Classic, NZSS – 2f (heat and final)/3f (final), Ladyship Stakes, GN/NZ Oaks, Nevele R Fillies (two heat/final), Queen Of Hearts with seconds in Ashburton Flying Stakes, NZ Breeders Stakes and thirds in Premier Mares Championship, Easter Cup.
Winning on six occasion’s in Australia (four MV, one each HP/AP) including NSW Oaks, heats VIC/QLD Oaks (second both finals), El Dorado – 3f with thirds in Australian Derby. Ladyship Mile. Three wins in North America including a first up victory in a heat of the Fan Hanover at Woodbine, Matron Stakes prelude at Dover Downs defeating Armbro Romance and a third in the Breeders Crown – 3f at Colonial Downs (12 starts, for three wins/seconds/thirds). Her victories included twelve in succession in NZ and Australia as a two/three year old.
Retired after the Queen Of Hearts victory and in foal to Life Sign after her return from States, this her first foal subsequently died. Under Cover Lover was two year filly/three year filly and four year old Pacing Mare of Year.
Under Cover Lover is dam of thirteen foals, nine to race for six winners including Affairs Of State, winner, dam of Chachingchaching 1:51.6AUS, $184,214 (seven NZ/nine NSW, five Menangle wins), NI Sales Graduate 2 and grand dam of Heza Head Honcho, 1:53.7, $69,118WA Western Crown – 2c; My Exotic Lover, two NZ wins, NZYSS – 2f, dam of Big Abraxas, 1:54.7AUS, $145,806 (five NZ/seven NSW, one Menangle, three QLD/Albion Park wins), Speights Girl (six wins; dam of Bubbled Up, 1:55.9 on grass in Nevele R Fillies heat at Methven) and Match in Heaven 1:50.9AUS, $325,329, twenty one NSW wins, fifteen Menangle, Joe Isley/Renshaw Cups; High Valour, 1:56.8AUS (two NZ/three Albion Park wins); Grand Cru, 1:55.8, sixteen AUS wins, $109,603
Non-winning/unraced filly foals of Under Cover Lover : Art Lover, 1:56.6TT, dam of Lost In Bangkok 1:55.6, $86,000 (one NZ/six VIC/fifteen SA, thirteen Globe Derby wins) and Our Classical Art 1:52.4, $141,058 (five NZ/eight NSW, six Menangle wins); Fortune Lover, unraced dam of Vampiro, 1:52.9, $535,836 (Mount Eden Sprint, James Brennan/Stratton Cups, Village Kid Sprint, Pinjarra Cup); Under the Odds, unraced dam of The Odd Lover, 1:56.1, $117,681 (twelve WA wins, five Gloucester Park, WA 4/5yo Championship) and Major Trojan, 1:54.1, two NZ/four Gloucester Park wins, 1:54.1, $204,689, WA Derby
Front Cover Lover, unraced dam of twelve foals, six raced plus qualifier, four winners including outstanding millionaire pacing mare Bettor Cover Lover, 1:53.8, $1,026,427, seventeen NZ/two Melton wins. The winner of six Group Ones : NZSS – 2f, Jewels Diamond – 2f, VIC Oaks (heat/final), Queen Of Hearts twice, NZ Breeders Stakes plus Premier Mares Championship, Yearling Sales Series 2/3f, GN Breeders Stakes, Jewels Diamonds – 5m. Seconds in Caduceus Club Fillies Classic, NZSS – 3f, GN Oaks, Premier Mares Championship, NZ Breeders Stakes, Taylor Mile, Jewels Diamond – 4m. Thirds in Ladyship Stakes, Auckland Cup, Taylor Mile, Ak Summer Cup, NSW Ladyship Mile, WA Norms Daughter Classic. Dam of one foal, a winner, Bettor Getta Lover, 1:58.3, $24,230
Other foals include Tout De Monde, two NZ wins, dam of three AUS winners; De Malanche, two NZ wins; Front Row, one race 3yo winner in AUS; Back Cover Lover, dam of AUS winner
Delizioso, four NZ wins (one Alexandra Park/two Cambridge), 1:56.6TT, $30,960; dam of twelve foals, five to race plus two qualifiers, five winners including Edith Piaf two VIC/five WA wins, one Gloucester Park, 1:56.1AUS, $43,148; Castellina Lover, five NZ including first three starts as 3yo, Nevele R Fillies heat/two NSW wins, one Menangle, 1:55.3AUS, $52,073, dam of Recco Lover, five Alexandra Park/three Menangle wins, 1:52.2, $90,551; Art Critic, five wins, 1:56.0, $54,783, NZSS Southern Mares Classic; Brunello (two NZ/numerous NA wins, 1:51.0US, $157,535); Italian Lad, one win, 1:56.0, $11,732, fifth NZSS – 3c
(Our) Awesome Lover, unraced dam of nine foals, four to race for three winners; Our Awesome Girl, 1:57.1, four AUS wins and Riccardo, 1:54.6, four NZ (three Addington) wins from nine starts for Mark Purdon and Natalie Rasmussen
Charm Alarm, winner of seven AUS races, two NSW, two TAS/Launceston, two VIC, one WA Gloucester Park in 1:56.7AUS, $57,519; dam of La La Bron, two Menangle wins, 1:55.4, $40,425
Vain Franco’s dam Van Glory (Van Dieman) won eleven, most productive season being at three recording five wins (Metropolitan Championship – 3, GN Oaks) and placed in NZ Derby (second) and thirds in GN Derby/NZ Oaks. At five, two wins included the second running of NZ Breeders Stakes pacing her quickest mile (1:59.6, mare’s mile record). A solitary win at six in a heat of Easter Cup (second in another heat, fourth in the final) with third placings in Allan Matson Stakes, National Flying Pace and NZ Breeders Stakes.
Van Glory was the dam of Vain Franco; Broncroft Castle, dam of Mon Poppy Day (WA/TAS Derbies, WA Golden Nugget, Christmas Gift, Mount Eden Sprint), Parthenon (WA Sales Classic – 2f, WA Oaks), granddam of Amongst Royalty ($½m, APG – 2f, Bathurst Gold Tiara – 2f, WA Sales Classic – 2f, WA Golden Girls Mile twice, AUS 2f Pacer of Year), 3rd dam of Straittothehilton (WA Westbred Classic – 2f ); Vanessa Franco, grand dam of All In Baby (WA Empress Stakes); Vonnie Franco, dam of Wirrpunda (WA Champagne Classic – 2, WA Sales Classic 2/3c)l grand dam of Canardly Lover, 1:53.4, $177,123, Wairio Cup
Vain Franco’s grand dam was Malabella (Dorals Derby), 2:07.8, five wins, Riccarton Stakes, seconds NZ Oaks, Champion/Cross Stakes and thirds in NZ Derby/NZ Pacing Stakes; seven foals, five winners including Chief Eagle, two NZ/eight AUS Redcliffe Derby; Lord Garry/Wee Mike/Michaelae, three wins.
Malabella’s broodmare fame was due to Vain Franco’s half-sister Bellajily, winner of nine NZ races before export to USA and subsequent return to NZ (served by Most Happy Fella) for breeding purposes by Jim Dalgety. A winner at two, Bellajily’s solitary win at three was NZ Derby on the first night of racing under lights at Addington (20 November 1963). She finished second in NZ Oaks and third in NZ Pacing Stakes. Five wins at four and two at five (DN Festival Cup consolation) resulted before venturing to North America as a six year old (2:03.3US, six wins).
On her return to NZ, Bellajilly became the dam of Van Glory; Jovial Jeanie (Most Happy Fella), winner of nine all in one season for Roy and Barry Purdon including Franklin Cup. Jovial Jeannie is dam of Happy Hazel, Ladyship Stakes – 3f, GN Oaks, Nevele R Fillies, 3f Pacer of Year, grand dam of Imagine That, NZSS – 2/3f, Queen of Hearts, Kaikoura Cup, Renwick FFA, 4m Pacer of Year and Im Full Of Excuses, Southern Supremacy, Pinjarra Cup; Krina Bella, four 2yo wins, Thames Debutante, 2f Pacer of Year, dam of Keep It Up (SA Derby); Mio Bellisimo, dam of Torbello (QLD Derby), Black Flash (NZ Breeders Produce – 2), Asabella (dam of Ohokas Bondy (WA Golden Slipper – 2, Western Gateway – 3, Nights of Thunder; Dancing Diamonds (NZ Yearling Sales – 2/3f, dam of Princess Tiffany, AUS/NZ 2f of Year, won nine straight at two including Delightful Lady/Caduceus Club Classics, Jewels Diamond, AUS Breeders Crown, NZ/NSW/QLD Oaks, 1:49.9, $829,494 and Rock Diamonds, WA Caduceus Club Classic – 3, 4yo Championship); third dam of Miss Sangnai, WA Empress Stakes, Race For Roses.
Vain Franco’s third dam was non-winner Mala (Red Shadow). She left Princess Grace (Malabella‘s half sister), dam of open class pacer Vanadium (1:59.3US, Easter Cup, New Brighton Cup twice, Ashburton Flying Stakes, two ID heats). Princess Grace was granddam of Sun Seeker (Champion Stakes, Kaikoura Cup, National Hcp).
Fourth dam Krina (Jewel Chimes), was a smart saddle mare (2:10.8, Addington; Nelson Cup) who produced seven winners from eight foals : Rerekohua, Ngarimu, Air Spray, Lady Spray, Noel Simpson’s Sprayman (Welcome/Sapling Stakes, ID heat), Son’s Gift and Stronghold. This family bred on without leaving any champions aside from Malabella’s descendants.
Peter Craig
22 April 2020
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
