Nemera Franco lived up to her high billing today when she dealt to a handy field of R52-R59 horses and in the process broke a fifteen year track record.
The three year old Bettor’s Delight filly is trained at West Melton by Steven McRae.
“We thought she was a classic two year old filly but she went in the wind and had an operation. After that we’ve been very cautious about what we've said about her,” he said.
McRae, a former Southlander, said he’s keen to bring the quality filly back to the province but she’ll have a week off before he looks at heading back to qualify for April's Southland Oaks Final.
“We’ll try and get her back down here before she gets up in the grades.”
In today's race, driver Craig Thornley settled the filly four back on the outside. With 800 metres to run Thornley had the favourite out three wide. Just before the run home he launched her five wide and she sprinted away to win by an impressive eight lengths. Her time of 2-41.4 for the 2200 metres mobile was a new track record for three year old fillies. The old record, of 2-43.2, was set by Champagne Princess in 2002.
Nemero Franco and Craig Thornley winning by eight lengths – Photo Bruce Stewart
“She got a great trip today and he drove her a treat. It was more the way she did it that impressed me.”
Nemera Franco is out of the three win Union Guy mare Nature Franco and McRae said he wondered if she’d return to the potential she showed as a two year old.
“She’s very lazy, trots round on one rein and won’t tighten the bit. This time round we've wondered if what we thought of her (early on) was right. She didn’t seem to be the same horse and you had to make her do what she did. A couple of times at the trials, Craig has come back and said not to worry about her. She’s picked up the bit and really charged (at the trials). Today he had to give her a couple just to get her to go but when she went she disappeared. He also said in the first ten strides when she came out she just wasn’t going to go anywhere. She’s still got a lot to learn.”
Nemera Franco is part of a new syndication scheme that Spreydon Lodge has been running for the last two seasons.
“For the last two years we’ve found three yearlings that broke in well that we’re going to keep for breeding. We leased them out for a half share – three year racing only lease. People take five or ten percent. It’s a nice cheap way of people getting into what we hope will be a classic horse one day.”
Winning connections – Photo Bruce Stewart
He said a lot of the syndicate had driven down from Christchurch for the day and others were old rugby mates from Waikaka.
"There’s a lot of them here today so the bar takings will be up.”
Bruce Stewart
Southland Harness Racing