The multiply Group One winning mare Nike Franco, has been sold to North American interests for a substantial sum and has already arrived into the stable of high profile American harness racing trainer Jo Ann Looney-King in Delaware, Maryland.
Trained by Victorian Dean Braun Nike Franco has raced in 18 Group races to-date. Her record stands at 33 starts for 18 wins and 11 placings for $392,000 in earnings.
Nike Franco by McArdle is sensationally bred and is the first foal from the $439,376 Group One winning Badlands Hanover mare Nearea Franco who was the 2007/2008 4yo “Pacing Mare of the Year” and the 2008/2009 “Older Pacing Mare of the Year” in New Zealand. A yearling half-sister by Mach Three to Nike Franco sold for $70,000 at this year’s yearling sale in Christchurch.
Nike Franco is closely related to world champion and “Horse of the Year” Beach Towel ($2,570,357). Nearea Franco, the dam of Nike Franco, is from the Abercrombie mare No Papa who is a half-sister to Beach Towel.
There has probably never been a better performed mare than Nike Franco that has gone to North America, from Australia, or New Zealand for that matter, at such a young age with still so much to offer.
At her last start Nike Franco won the Group One $100,000 Queen of Pacific Stakes over 2700 meters in a track record, beating the best mares in Australasia.
Four starts back she beat a field of top class boys in the Warragul Cup in a track record again and beat them fair and square. That field included Glenferrie Hood who went on to beat the best FFA horses in Australasia including Christen Me 1:49.1 ($2,390,000).
Nike Franco won the $125,000 Group 1 Mares Classic at Gloucester Park on a half mile track beating all the best mares Down Under over 2130 meters in a 1:55 mile rate over the distance, at the last Inter Dominions.
In her lead up to that race North American champion driver Tim Tetrick drove Nike Franco to win at Pinjarra, while he was in Australia for the Inter-Dominions. He was very impressed with her win. Other New Zealand mares that have been sold to North American interests in recent times and that have performed very well are;
Royal Cee Cee NZ record, 11 starts for 4 wins $73,000 – USA 40 wins 21 seconds and 14 thirds for $1,149,752.
Sell A Bit NZ record, 34 starts for 9 wins $66,000 – USA since August 2015, 19 wins 14 seconds and 9 thirds for $426,000.
Al Raza NZ record, 25 starts 9 wins $69,000 – USA since September 2015, 17 wins 10 seconds 7 thirds for $323,000.
If there was ever a mare to represent Australia and New Zealand in North America then this mare Nike Franco has the best chance to do exactly that. It is quite conceivable to see her winning a million dollars plus in North America if all goes well.
Nike Franco was purchased by the well known racing identity Richard Poillucci of Boston who also bought Hambletonian Day winner Barimah (1:50.3) from Australia. Barimah was having only his third start in the USA.
Harnesslink Media