Tough opposition on Saturday night but Al’s hoping Franco Nandor can measure up
By Barry Lichter • 18 June 2021
Franco Nandor faces a strong field at Albion Park on Saturday night but trainer Al Barnes is keen to see how Lincoln Farms’ new Queensland import measures up.
Most of the three-year-olds in the eighth race have won far more races than Franco Nandor, and gone much faster, but Barnes says with his ability to sit on the speed he shouldn’t be far away.
“I don’t think a fast time would worry him - he was very keen when he ran 1:56 last week - and he might surprise us a bit.”
Franco Nandor was having his first start in Brisbane last Friday night when second at long odds to the $1.22 hotpot The Raconteur.
Hunted hard out of the gate, Barnes got half a length on the favourite before having to pull back and he just managed to squeeze into the trail ahead of the second row horse who rushed up to try to claim the spot.
The spilt second manoeuvre was the subject of a protest and ended up costing Barnes a $300 fine for tightening but it gave Franco Nandor the run of the race.
Franco Nandor has died on his run but is still only two metres second to hotpot The Raconteur.And in the run home the three-year-old lodged a likely challenge before just “running out of puff in the last 75 metres” and finishing two metres second.
“He was underdone last week and it was my first drive on him,” says Barnes.
“He didn’t appreciate me hitting him on the bum either so this time I’ll try to hold him together and make him feel brave rather than letting his mouth go.”
Barnes says if Sydneysider The Raconteur had been in this week’s race he’d have started quite short in the betting so he doesn’t believe Franco Nandor is out of it.
“It’s a strong race but there are no derby horses in there - except maybe Watts Up Sunshine (10 wins and six placings from 22 starts) - but they say Nandor’s tough.
“I was going to put him in next week’s Redcliffe Derby but it looks like Krug and a few other good ones will be running there so we’ll see how he measures up on Saturday.
“I’m not sure if he can cross from four but we’ll run the gate and see how quick he is. Hopefully we can get across to the rail and take a sit. If he can sit on the speed I’d like to think he can run top four or five.
“His trackwork was good during the week.”
Franco Nandor races at 10.41pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 2: Debbie Lincoln
5.53pm
“She was good fresh-up but a bit disappointing last week. She’s still very green and I’m not sure what to think about her yet.”
Race 5: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.12pm
“He’s the best performed of them all and will get a good trip from one so that means he’s the best of our bunch. He raced well below his best down at Christchurch and we think he might have had a bit of a virus - there was a lot of it down there.”
Race 5: Leo Lincoln
7.12pm
“He wasn’t getting the corners 100% last week. We’ve changed the bit to see if he steers better. He’d be very dangerous if he did but he could be better left-handed.”
Race 5: Kevin Kline
7.12pm
“He’s doing nothing wrong and hopefully he’ll keep going well. Maurice said he jogged it last week and the step-up in opposition shouldn’t be too much of a worry for him.”
Race 5: Tyson
7.12pm
“He’s a strange little horse. You never know what to expect. Some days he’s brilliant, others he’s hopeless. We’ll see how he gets around this time.”
Race 5: Lincoln Lou
7.12pm
“It’s a shame he’s drawn the outside because he’s training well and trialled well, but he should still go a good race. He always goes well if there’s nothing wrong. He was hitting his knees down in Christchurch.”
Race 7: The Big Lebowski
8.04pm
“If Sooner The Bettor gets to the front obviously he’ll be hard to run down but he’s no Merlin and I think we’re a big chance if he does everything right. He’s not out of it from 20 metres.”
Race 10: Frisco Bay
9.38pm
“The race will do him good after a short break. You can put a line through that last run at Ashburton. I think he was one who had a few passengers on board (a virus) because he wasn’t anywhere near as good as he had been. He went big at Addington in his previous start and was unlucky. If he’d been one slot closer he would have won easily.”
Race 11: Onyx Shard
10.08pm
“She’s a beautiful filly but it’s her first run for seven months so I’m not expecting anything too flash. She’s training really well, and driving beautifully, but she might need a race or two before we see the best of her. If she gets home well this week, I’ll be happy.”
Race 11: Commander Lincoln
10.08pm
“He’s an honest little horse who’s always thereabouts without being dangerous. Fergie might wake him up a bit.”
