Franco Nandor ready to tee up on new course on Friday for Fox and friends
By Barry Lichter • 10 June 2021
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.
International golfer Ryan Fox with Franco Nandor. He was gifted a 20% share in the high priced yearling by Lincoln Farms’ John Street after winning the Wairakei Invitational last year.“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.
Man Of Action runs on for fourth at Redcliffe in the best closing sectionals of the day.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.”
The clock shows how well Man Of Action raced last Sunday.
Man Of Action races at 9.22pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday night.
Franco Nandor races at 10.22pm NZ time at Albion Park on Friday night.
More news in Harness
Spiritual Bliss notches hat-trick and pushes Lincoln Farms’ season tally to record 43
Hubby nearly in the dog box after Tyson delivers Debbie a Golden Gait knockout blow
Debbie lands Golden draw at last in her bid to give Sampson a haircut at the Park
Spiritual Bliss and Lincoln Maree add to Lincoln Farms’ gallery of Manawatu heroes
Our runners this week
Wednesday twilight at Auckland
Prince Lincoln, Johnny Lincoln, Spiritual Bliss, Debbie Lincoln, Tyson, Leo Lincoln.
Our runners this week: How our trainer rates them
Ray’s comments
Wednesday at Cambridge
Race 3: Spiritual Bliss
1.10pm
“You can’t fault what she’s done up here and she’s trained on really well since Manawatu. She seems to have a good motor and can carry her speed a long way. It’s a bit of a step-up on Wednesday, and she’s drawn out a bit, but she should be right in the fray.”
Race 4: Lincoln Lover
1.45pm
“It’s a huge drop in class for him on what he’s been racing. The Purdon horse Crippa Max looks the one to beat on his trial but I’m picking we’ll finish in the first three at worst. He’s very honest and does nothing wrong.”
Race 6: Lincoln Downs
2.55pm
“She got skittled early last time when one galloped in front of her, and that didn’t help. It would be nice to see her get a good trip, with no incidents, and see what she can do. She’s no superstar but she tries hard.”
Race 9: Leo Lincoln
4.31pm
“It’s his first race for more than four months and I’m picking he’ll need the run. It was a toss-up whether we went to the trials, but he’d probably have had no opposition, so it made sense to drop him in here. He’s training well and seems in good shape but whatever he does, he’ll improve on.”
