By Tayler Strong
The win of Franco Nelson in the Hannon Memorial Free-For-All at Oamaru on Sunday was tinged with sadness.
Sharon McKay, a part-owner of Franco Nelson died on July 10. Her estate now shares the ownership of Franco Nelson with her parents, long time owners, Clive and Rona McKay, Mitzi Taylor and Jenna Dunn, wife of assistant trainer and driver, John Dunn.
The ownership of Franco Nelson, now seven and dogged by unsoundness, was restructured in March to include Jenna Dunn and Mitzi Taylor, wife of Sam Taylor, whose Rangiora veterinary clinic services the Dunn stable. The McKays bought Franco Nelson as a 2yr-old from Spreydon Lodge after he had won his first start. He carried on to win a Sires’ Stakes Final at three when trained by Steven McRae. Franco Nelson was transferred to trainer Robert Dunn at Woodend Beach late in his 3yr-old season and won the Harness Jewels at four in 1.53.1 at Cambridge in May, 2014. He was to remain winless until Sunday but the Christian Cullen entire had shown glimpses of his ability. He finished second to Adore Me, beaten half a head in the 2014 New Zealand Cup won in a record 3.54.6 for the 3200m and fourth in the race last year when having his first start for 10 months.
John Dunn is of a view that Franco Nelson is as sound as he has ever been. “ We took a bone chip of his front fetlock after the Easter Cup in March and that could have been his main problem,’’said Dunn.
“I am just pleased to get him back to winning form.”
A split second decision after 250m of the Hannon cost Dunn $400 but it was crucial. He chose to ease Franco Nelson behind Tiger Tara when vying for the lead. He was fined for his action after admitting careless driving, causing a check to Pulp Fiction. Franco Nelson followed Tiger Tara in the lead and took the passing lane after a blistering final 800m in 54.7. He downed Tiger Tara by three quarters of a length. Cullect A Guiness, a stablemate of Franco Nelson, did well for third in a gap of two and a half lengths after racing in the open close up over the last 1200m.
“I thought he (Franco Nelson) would boom past Tiger Tara in the straight but the latter proved what a hard horse he is to get past,’’ said Dunn.
He has no plan for Franco Nelson leading up to his third attempt at the New Zealand Cup in eight weeks.
“We have got a bit of time to think about it,” he said.
Franco Nelson is due advancement on ninth in his NZ Cup rating. The next race for the NZ Cup candidates is the New Brighton Cup ffa on September 23.
It was Robert Dunn’s second Hannon Memorial win after Panky’s Pacer, driven by Ricky May, in 2002. Panky’s Pacer was pulled up in the NZ Cup that year.
Franco Ledger was diagnosed by a veterinarian with a fractured pedal bone after he pulled up lame. He faltered near the 800m when racing in fifth place.
“It is possibly a fracture in the lower part of his front leg. We will know more after he is X-rayed in the morning,’’ said Hamish Hunter, his Ryal Bush trainer and part-owner.
“I thought he had stood on a shoe initially and it was not until the straight that he showed up lame.’’
Franco Ledger, a nine-year-old entire, was resuming after a seven month break from racing racing. He won the Hannon Memorial in 2012 and 13. He has won 25 races and $682,000 in stakes for Hunter and the What Ever syndicate.
The Dunn stable also won the main race for trotters on Sunday with Jag’s Invasion, who overcame a 40m handicap in his first race for three months. It was also a good result for Bill Bain, of Roxburgh, Andy Anderson and Keith Stevens, both of Oamaru. They joined the ownership of the 9yr-old gelding last month. Jag’s Invasion, who had been off the winning list for just under two years, joined the Dunn stable in February after eight wins for Phil Williamson and another for Nathan Williamson. Anderson and Stevens are in the ownership of the runner up The Silver Fox.
David McCormick drove his first winner for 10 years and continued a family tradition with the success of Sugar Cane in a C0 trot. McCormick is the trainer of Sugar Cane whom he races with his son, David. David had not driven a winner since Good Charlotte at Omoto in 2006. His previous win as a trainer was with Glendaloch at Rangiora in 2012. David’s father, Doug trained and drove his first winner, Silver Wood at Oamaru in 1953. Doug retired from training and driving in 2013 at the age of 83
Star Of Memphis won over 2000m (mobile) is 2.26, 0.7 outside the track record for his age when having his first start. He is a 3yr-old by Rock N Roll Heaven from Star Of Venus, trained by Jim Curtin for Wellington breeder, Reg Caldow. Star Of Memphis led from the 1600m and won by three and a half lengths. He is a half brother to Star Of Dionysis, who won five races in New Zealand for Curtin and Caldow and another five from 10 starts in Australia this year.
All Settled Down, who won a C1 trot in dashing style, will now be eased in work and served by Love You.
“She is unsound and has left a yearling colt by Majestic Son who is shaping nicely,” said Gavin Smith, her trainer. All Settled Down was served in 2013 as a 3yr-old after one start when showing soreness in the pelvic area.
Now six, she has had six starts since resuming racing on August 7 for two wins and two seconds.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
Driving The Future Of Harness Racing
