Front-running success
Franco Cristiano stated the case for his trainer Robert Dunn to return to the record book for the New Zealand Sires’ Stakes Final after a 27 year absence with a brilliant heat win at Forbury Park on Thursday night.
Three-year-old Franco Cristiano led throughout the 1700m (mobile) in 2.02, a 1.55.4 mile rate and the fastest time recorded in a Sires’ Stakes heat for colts and geldings at Forbury Park.
He was 0.1sec inside the mark set last year by Art Union. Franco Cristiano’s time on a cold night was within 0.2sec of the track record set by filly Adore Me during a fine day in a Sires’ Stakes heat for fillies in 2012.
Franco Cristiano sped over the last 800m in 55.6 and won by a length and a half in the NRMsponsored event.
He Can Fly outfinished his stablemate, G I Joe by a neck for second. The pair did well in their race debuts.
‘‘It was good. I was very happy with the way he came off the gate [mobile],’’ driver John Dunn said.
‘‘I was confident he would, as he has come home in some quick sectionals in his other races.’’
Franco Cristiano was steadied off the gate in the score up then spurted to retain the lead from barrier one. Franco Cristiano, owned by Alan and Ian Neumann, Stuart Leadley, Geoff Evans and Brent Clarke, all of Ashburton, is now unbeaten in four starts.
John Dunn, right-hand man to his trainer-father, Robert, at the Woodend Beach stable, said Franco Cristiano may not contest another heat of the Sires’ Stakes before the $170,000 final at Addington on November 10.
‘‘He might just bypass the remaining heats [October 9 and 23 at Addington] and gain experience in other races. There is a Super series race for him at Addington in a fortnight.’’
Robert Dunn was the trainerdriver and part-owner of National Glory, winner of the Sires’ Stakes Final at Addington in 1988. The stake was then $148,750 with the final on the second day of the New Zealand Cup meeting.
Unique Blue Chip won the final heat at Addington three days earlier. National Glory won a heat at Invercargill on November 1. A heat was not run at Forbury Park until 1999 when Stars And Stripes won for trainer John Lischner and driver Ken Barron. Stars And Stripes carried on to win the final, a feat also achieved by Forbury Park heat winners, Franco Heir (2000), Pay Me Christian (2005) and Auckland Reactor (2007).
Meanwhile, the Tricode syndicate, based in Southland is hoping their luck in Otago will continue at Wingatui today.
The syndicate comprising 76 members had a win on Thursday night with the pacer Gotta Laugh. The syndicate had won with the greyhound Thrilling Marty at Forbury Park a fortnight earlier.
The syndicate has Honor And Cherish and Tinka Tinka engaged at Wingatui.
Peter Kett, Invercargill manager of the syndicate, was on hand at Forbury Park with his wife, Bernie when Gotta Laugh triumphed. Gotta Laugh is trained at Westwood by Amber Hoffman.
Rory Mach left for the United States on Thursday after being sold by his Mosgiel owner-trainer, Martin Denton. Rory Mach won three races.
The sale was negotiated by Andrew Suddaby, a former trainer, now employed by the stable of Matt Saunders at West Plains. Suddaby Bloodstock has brokered the sale of several horses in recent weeks.