Franco Ledger heads Aussie entries for Cup
Franco Ledger, the former Southland pacer, now based in Victoria, has been entered for the $750,000 New Zealand Trotting Cup on November 10.
He won a free-for-all at Melton on Friday night in a 1.56.6 mile rate for the 2240m (mobile) when driven by Anthony Butt.
It was the fourth win for Franco Ledger since he transferred from the stable of Hamish Hunter to Geoff Webster last December.
The Falcon Seelster entire has finished eighth, eighth and sixth in the past three NZ Cups.
Franco Ledger is among 10 Australian-trained pacers nominated for the NZ Cup which has a stake increase of $36,000.
The others are Alleluia, Aden Rooney, Chancellor Cullen, Corzin Terror, Easy On The Eye, Forever Gold, Jivin Cullen, Mach Beauty and Messini.
Australian-trained trotters entered for the $250,000 Dominion Handicap on November 13 are Kyvalley Blur, Maori Time, Used To Me and Vincennes. Maori Time finished second to Keystone Del in a free-for-all on Friday night. Keystone Del ran a track record 1.54.5 mile rate for the 1720m (mobile) in his 28th win from 49 starts.
Isola Bella, who has won a qualifying test and two workouts at Ascot Park this month has been entered for a C0 race at Addington on Friday night.
Her Branxholme trainer Kirk Larsen has been campaigning Uncle Ben at Addington.
Jericho, winner of his last three starts, all at Addington, has been sold to Australia.
He lifted his form after being bought in May by Ross McCutcheon and Don Borlase, of Temuka and joining the Yaldhurst stable of Brent White.
He had previously had a win in November, 2013 from 23 starts when trained by Kerry Hadfield. Jericho is a 6-year-old by Tomahawk, a lightly raced skewbald non-winner by Christian Cullen.
Jericho helped White to his best seasonal total of 17 wins since he began training 25 years ago.
Sell A Bit, who contributed five wins, has been sold to America.
Trouble Rieu, the trotter who won twice and qualified for the Harness Jewels, is back in work.
Stuover, who won first up at Rangiora on Sunday, qualified at Addington six days earlier.
A 3-year-old in the stable of Mark Jones, he is by Changeover from Girlsjustwanahavefun and thus a half-brother to The Lutts (six wins).