Despite two Group 1 triumphs in the three top-flight open-age mares’ races on the 2015-16 national racing calendar Victorian pacer Nike Franco failed to take the Australian Aged Pacing Mare of the Year gong in the recent national awards.
The brilliant daughter of Mcardle gets her chance to atone however at the Victorian industry awards night at Crown’s Palladium on Gordon Rothacker Medal Night, Sunday November 6.
The gala event will celebrate the high achievers of season 2016-17 across all Horse of the Year categories, as well as the leading trainers, drivers and the Victorian country clubs and administrators.
Harvey Kaplan, who is among the Nike Franco ownership, said the mare’s connections were excited about this year’s Rothacker Medal night.
“We’re really looking forward to it. I think it’s a great idea to have the night return to the city and at a salubrious venue such as the Palladium. We’re looking forward to celebrating the top-line horses throughout the evening,” he said.
Kaplan said Dean Braun-trained Nike Franco achieved an enormous amount in season 2015-16 and the team was immensely proud of her work.
“There were only three Group 1 open-age mares’ races nationally and Nike Franco won two of them and placed third in the other. She won over the longer trip, the shorter trip, in Western Australia. She also defeated the boys in the Warragul Cup in track record time,” he said.
“She had a great season and we had a lot of fun with her. We were very proud of her performances.”
The prestigious Gordon Rothacker Medal will be awarded to a long-time industry achiever on the night, while the Pearl Kelly Award and the Distinguished Service Medal will also be presented.
Bruce Morgan took out last year’s Rothacker Medal, following on from Kerryn Manning in 2014.
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Gordon Rothacker Medal Honour Roll
2002: Ian McCallum
2003: Geoff Hill
2004: Jim Barker
2005: Ron Pocock
2006: Matt Donaldson
2007: Peter Manning
2008: Bruce & Elizabeth Clarke
2009: Les Chapman
2010: Arthur Graham
2011: Ted Demmler
2012: Neville Welsh
2013: Graeme Lang
2014: Kerryn Manning
2015: Bruce Morgan
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