Franco Nandor ready to tee up on new course on Friday for Fox and friends
Franco Nandor’s not a line-up-and-win job like some of Lincoln Farms’ previous Queensland runners but trainer Al Barnes is still predicting a bold Albion Park debut on Friday night.
The Mach Three colt has trialled well since his arrival at Barnes’ Marburg stable and from three on the gate in the fifth race, the trainer is hoping he’ll weigh in.
“I’m happy with him. There’ll be a bit of natural improvement in him but he’s ready for his first assignment.
“Hayden was rapt with his work leading up to his second trial, he really liked him, and I’m sure he’ll be competitive.”
Franco Nandor finished 22 metres behind topliner Spankem in his first trial, run in a fast 1:55.5 mile rate for 1660 metres, and showed improvement last Friday when leading all the way from seven on the gate in a 1:58.2 mile rate, home in 57.5 and 28.1.
“He trialled well and showed good gate speed,” Barnes said. “He got a little tired in the last 50 metres but he was entitled to as he did a bit of work early.
“He’s got tons of ability, whether he’s genuine enough to show it, only time will tell.”
Franco Nandor won two of his 13 starts in New Zealand for Lincoln Farms’ John and Lynne Street, top Kiwi golfer Ryan Fox, Denis Ebert, Steve MacDonald, Chris Prutton and Wayne Seebeck, and gets into a rating 50 to 55 event on Friday.
“It’s not a bad field, very even, and he should be prominent in the running - with his gate speed he’ll put himself there.
“He has to carry the old fat fella (Barnes himself) so that’s a handicap, but he’ll be competitive and whatever he does, he’ll improve on.
“I think he’ll be a bit like Bondi Shake, never far away.”
Franco Nandor will be at lucrative odds on Friday, however, as he runs into impressive last start all-the-way winner The Raconteur, drawn the pole. The Jim and Sandi Curtin-bred Art Major gelding clocked a 1:55 mile rate in his second start at Albion Park last week for Sydney trainer KerryAnn Morris.
Turned the corner
With the recent departure of son Hayden to work for Pete McMullen, Barnes will also drive Man Of Action in the third race, confident he’s turned the corner.
“I’m really happy with him. His last two runs have been super and he’s starting to hit the line again with good sectionals.”
At Redcliffe last Sunday Man Of Action finished a much improved fourth, coming from four deep on the marker line with a strong finish to record the fastest closing sectionals of the day, 56.64 and 28.36.
“There’s been a lot of work put into him, trying a lot of different things to get him happy and with an ounce of luck he’ll be there on Friday as he seems to want to to do it again.
“Three the second row is fine for him as that’s how I want to drive him. Hopefully I’ll be buried away three fence and he’ll run on.”
More news in Harness
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Even some minor money would please Ray on what looks to be a tough night at Auckland
This morning’s work like the Nemo of old but Thursday’s draw is more than cruel
Ray: Little Leo’s no star but he’s the kind of horse everybody would love to own
Our runners this week
Friday at Albion Park
Captain Nemo.
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Les Harding
Monday at Globe Derby
Racer 7: Beaudiene Rocknroll
6.51pm NZ time
Update: Late scratched
The horse has improved with his latest run (for second) and the field looks a little weaker this time. Ammicchi and Whata Optimist can fly the gate, so the lead might not be there, but with any sort of trip he should be very competitive again.
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Lincoln Cove
6.38pm
“You wouldn’t know what he’s going to do. It depends whether he wants to win or not. He trained really well last week. This week he’s been going like shit. He gets in going right-handed, so he could be worse at Auckland.”
Race 3: Frisco Bay
6.38pm
“It’s impossible to predict what might happen from the second row draw but you can put a line through his last run, they went nothing and only sprinted up the straight.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.30pm
“He went another good race last week, slightly inconvenienced at a bad time. He wasn’t very quick out of the gate but did enough to hold up three fence. It’s a smaller field this time so it might be run a bit differently but he’ll need the right trip.”
Race 5: My Copy
7.30pm
“He went another good, honest race last week, but had to come four wide on the home turn. He’s better suited in a smaller field on Friday but will need all the breaks.”
Race 10: Obadiah Dragon
9.52pm
“I think he’s our best chance. He’s an improving horse who is right in the zone. He’s better than most people think and I’m sure he’ll go a good race.”