David Butcher has Franco Nandor rolling along nicely during his all-the-way win at Auckland. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.
Fox hits the birdies in England while Franco Nandor plays a top round at Alexandra Park
By Barry Lichter • 7 August 2020
Top golfer Ryan Fox was preparing to tee off in the English Open at Hertfordshire when Franco Nandor led all the way to win at Alexandra Park on Thursday night.
But Fox, who was gifted a 20% share in the Mach Three three-year-old by Lincoln Farms’ boss John Street after winning the Wairakei Invitational in June, heard the good news via a text from his mum.
“I was disappointed I couldn’t be there but hopefully I’ll get another chance to see him win later in the year,” Fox said via email.
Fox hit five birdies on his way to a solid opening round of 67, finishing four under, just four shots behind leader Northern Irishman Cormac Sharvin.
It continued his great start to the European Tour’s UK Swing, six events in England and Wales over the next six weeks.
Ryan Fox is interviewed after his eighth placing in the British Masters.Fox tied for eighth in the British Masters, firing one terrific round of 66 in atrocious conditons, to finish 11 under par, seven shots astern of Italian winner Renato Paratore.
And he was a solid 15th in the Hero Open a few days later in Birmingham.
Fox hadn’t played in a tournament since the New Zealand Open in early March and said “it’s nice to get back into the swing of things.
“It’s been a good start and my earnings are probably around $70,000 so far.”
Fox’s share of Franco Nandor’s $6600 winning purse pales in comparison - he will get just $1320. But the thrill of winning transcends that, especially since it came just two weeks after fellow Kiwi golfer Gareth Paddison enjoyed the win by Captain Nemo at Cambridge.
Paddison was given a 10% share in the Captaintreacherous colt when he finished second to Fox at Wairakei.
Captain Nemo could manage only sixth last night but had a second row to contend with while Franco Nandor drew perfectly in two.
Spell to strengthen
Fox won’t be in danger of missing Franco Nandor again any time soon as Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green will now turn him out for a good spell.
“Gelding didn’t agree with him so we’ll give him a good break to strengthen.”
Even though Franco Nandor lasted by a neck in a tight four-way finish with Military Man, Dixie Reign and Suidelike Major, Green said you could see he was weak at the finish.
There’ll be a nice surprise awaiting Fox on his return to New Zealand after he’s completed his two weeks in managed isolation.
Lincoln Farms’ business manager Ian Middleton today dropped round to his wife Anneke the wine and glasses set the horse won.
Fox, who has been invited to play in the US Open from September 17 to 20, has a largely lonely existence ahead of him - “I’ve got three months by myself in a hotel room.”
Fox, who must have his temperature checked every day as a COVID-19 precaution, can eat breakfast, lunch and dinner only with his caddy for the next six weeks, Northern Irishman Chris Selfridge, and he has to confine himself to his own room when not on the golf course or dining.
At least now he can watch a race replay of Franco Nandor winning on www.hrnz.co.nz when he wants a break from playing Assassin’s Creed on Xbox.
Franco Nandor staves off Military Man (yellow harness), Dixie Reign (widest) and Suidelike Major (inner) in a neck, neck and neck finish. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.
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Ray’s comments
Friday night at Cambridge
Race 1: Spirited Belle
4.46pm
Delany: “I saw she’d been punted but somebody must know something we don’t as I’ve been working her myself and, while she feels all right and hasn’t put the boot in like at Auckland, I think she’ll need the run. She hasn’t got any high speed but feels like she will stay. She has improved a bit but I’d be surprised if she won.”
Race 1: Lincoln Maree
4.46pm
“It’s always hard from these draws but she’s a tough mare who will make her own luck at some stage. She’s going well enough - her drivers have all been happy - and she’s a little warrior who tries like hell.”
Race 2: Major Copy
5.12pm
“He’s only two and very inexperienced but he feels like a good colt and there’s a lot of improvement in him. He certainly caught a lot of people’s attention last time. I don’t know how good he is yet but he’ll be right there.”
Race 2: Prince Lincoln
5.12pm
“If he can lead without having to do too much work I can’t see anything beating him. I thought he went great last start. He pressed the winner hard ’til the corner then just flattened out in the run home, but he had every reason to do that after all the work he’d done.”
Race 4: Spirit Of God
6.12pm
“She’s been undone by bad draws. If she led easily from three she’d be hard to beat as she’s a good front-runner.”
Race 4: Spirited Peggy
6.12pm
“We’ve had her for only two weeks but she’s seven now and has had her chance to win one. She has a bit of speed but I think she gets pulling so we’ve got the Hidez (compression) hood on her and plugged her ears up.”
Race 6: Copy N Paste
7.10pm
“We won’t see the best of him for another six months. He’s been a slow developing horse but is improving all the time and getting stronger.”
Race 6: Jessie Lincoln
7.10pm
“If I was having a bet on one of them in the race it would be her. She deserves to win one. Her last two have been really good - she just ran into one who was a bit slicker last time in Major Copy.”
Race 6: Lincoln Dealer
7.10pm
“He’s a bit one-dimensional - you’ve got to feed him track and let him run - so the second row draw is a big handicap. To his credit I was surprised he finished so close last time after all the work he did. When he gets a decent draw and crosses them they’ll know they’re at the races. He’s got a big motor and tries hard.”
Race 8: Rivergirl Bella
8.08pm
“She clawed her way to the front last time but had nothing left at the finish. That won’t happen this time and she should lead easily from one.”
Race 8: Angelic Copy
8.08pm
“She’s had terrible draws but has been going good races. The others last time were just better than her but this is a big drop in class. With the right trip she could get some of it at huge odds.”
Race 9: Sugar Ray Lincoln
8.35pm
“He’s not quick away from a stand but he won’t muff it completely. He steps from the front line and Peter Ferguson was quite happy with his last run.”
Race 9: Lincoln Wave
8.35pm
“He bombed the stand the first time but to be fair all those horses were rushing up at him from the back and that panicked him a bit. He’s on 10 metres this time so that won’t happen.”
