Yesterday's win by West Melton trained Franco Tristan had a good local angle to it.
The horse is part owned by former Southland rugby player and horse trainer Ken McRae who relocated to Canterbury over a year ago after selling his Waimumu property.
"He's currently at the Yaldhurst with a group of family and friends celebrating his 70th birthday. The rest of the owners are there except Paul Hitchens," reported stable driver Craig Thornley after the horse won the Otautau Four Square Supermarket Wairio Cup. "He loves it up there. He's our main worker."
McRae is one a handful of owners involved with the four year old McArdle gelding which is trained by his son Steven.
Franco Tristan lead into yesterday's feature with impeccable form, only running out of the money in three of his nine starts.
"He's just getting better and better. He looked like a nice two year old. Then he had to have a wind operation so he missed the whole of his three year old year. But he's come back a bit stronger."
After a slow beginning yesterday Thornley settled the gelding four back on the inside. With a lap to run he was five back on the inside after favourite The Big Boss took over.
When Acolyte moved off the running line with 950 metres to run Thornley had Franco Tristan on his back slotting into the one one. At the 350 metre mark he popped him out and started to progress forward. Under a hard drive Franco Tristan got up to beat Flashing On by three quarters of a length with The Big Boss one and three quarter lengths away in third.
Franco Tristan winning the Wairio Cup Photo by Bruce Stewart
"He was always travelling good and I thought he could run in the money. Wasn't so sure about winning. But we managed to."
The overall time for the 2400 metres was 2-58.1. The race record is held by Jamie who recorded 2-57.2 back in 2006.
Ken McRae won the 2005 Wairio Cup as a trainer with Wattie. He was driven by Robin Swain.
Second favourite Costa Del Magnifico ran the race post to post in 2-55.7 running his last 800 metres in 54.7 seconds. He was closing off nicely finishing less than five lengths from the winner. It was his first run since the beginning of September. There was also plenty of merit in the performance of runner up Flashing On.
Thornley said Franco Tristan is likely to contest the Country Cup Series.
"I'd like to think so but in his last two starts he's just missed away (enough) to be a nuisance. It worked out today because we got a good run afterwards. He's got a great attitude. He always hits 110% when he goes out there. He's got a bit of speed and is tough."
Bruce Stewart
Southland Harness Racing