Ryan Fox gets to know his gift horse Franco Nandor at Lincoln Farms.
Franco Nandor’s Redcliffe romp a timely treat for Ryan Fox preparing to tee off in Scotland
By Barry Lichter • 8 July 2021
Franco Nandor’s easy win at Redcliffe in Queensland tonight came just in time to give part owner Ryan Fox a psychological boost for the US$8 million Scottish Open.
Just a few hours before teeing off in the latest leg of the European tour at North Berwick, Fox awoke to news that the horse he was gifted a share in by Lincoln Farms’ owner John Street had hit an eagle in just his fifth start in the state.
“I’m very pleased to see Nandor win again,” Fox said after watching a replay of the race. “It looks like the move to race in Australia has been a good one.
“Hopefully I can channel some of his winning form onto the golf course in the next few weeks.”
Al Barnes eases down Franco Nandor after his all-the-way triumph.Fox, who was given an all expenses paid 20% share in the blue blood after bagging the Wairakei Invitational at Taupo in 2020, is in even better form than Franco Nandor.
Last month he claimed three consecutive top-15 finishes on the European Tour, finishing 11th equal in the European Open in Hamburg, 14th equal in the Scandinavian Open in Sweden and 14th equal in the International Open in Munich.
And while he missed the cut in the Irish Open last weekend, he is in good touch and looking forward to his two biggest missions of the season - the US$11.5 million Open Championship at the Royal St George’s Golf Club in Kent, England starting Thursday before flying to Japan to represent New Zealand at the Olympic Games.
Like Fox, Franco Nandor has the pedigree to be good. By Mach Three out of Nicaea Franco, a daughter of 2007-08 four-year-old mare of the year Nearea Franco, he cost $140,000 as a yearling.
John and Lynne Street took in four other partners in the horse, Denis Ebert, Steve MacDonald, Chris Prutton and Wayne Seebeck, hoping he would be a headliner but the gelding struggled, winning just twice at Auckland and Manawatu before being sent Al Barnes at Marburg.
Franco Nandor has gradually improved in the sunshine state, thriving with racing, and tonight’s run was his third in 10 days.
“He bounces back great after his races,” said Barnes. “I only jog him in between races, he doesn’t have any fast work, so he’s fresh, and wants to do it.”
Barnes, in the sulky himself again after two wins behind Brian Christopher, had no trouble finding the front tonight.
“He hung out a bit on the first turn and I nearly didn’t get him down to the fence but after that he was beautiful and relaxed in the run. And he responded really well when one came alongside him.”
Franco Nandor was travelling so well turning for home Barnes exploded clear by five lengths.
“As soon as I eased up in the straight he did too. Next time I’ll make him run through the line and maybe even pull the hood.”
Al Barnes brings Franco Nandor back after his third driving win for the week.Barnes’ casual style drew comment from his son Brendan, who finished runner-up on Get Ready To Rock.
“Brendan reckoned I have to stop trying to look like (the late) Gavin Lang who used to sit up and look pretty for the camera.”
The race, appropriately sponsored by local photographer Dan Costello, was Franco Nandor’s third win from 18 starts and took his career earnings to $25,745.
“It was a nice soft win. He was really suited to the smaller track today and I couldn’t really fault him.
“It’s been a super week, it doesn’t happen often. It’s nice to just have drives and to be competitive is even better.”
Barnes is now plotting to serve up another boost for Fox and his partners - as soon as Tuesday.
Before his win today Barnes entered Franco Nandor for a $9300 three-year-old maiden at Albion Park, twice the stake of tonight’s race, knowing he is still eligible because his two wins in New Zealand last year were classed as two-year-old wins with the Australian season not starting until January.
And Franco Nandor is sure to be a hot favourite in what is a weak looking field.
Franco Nandor explodes away from his rivals in the run home.
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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.”
