‘Geronimo’ out for another scalp at Redcliffe - and from the pole he’ll get his chance

Brian Christopher, the unlikely new star of Lincoln Farms’ B team in Brisbane, has drawn to get his chance at back-to-back wins at Albion Park on Wednesday night.

The Bettor’s Delight three-year-old, nicknamed Geronimo, leaves from the pole position in the second race from where trainer-driver Al Barnes reckons he should lead again.

The tactics proved successful last Wednesday when Brian Christopher easily staved off the home stretch challenge of the favourite Sweet Lombo to win by nearly four metres in just his second start in the state.

“It’s a little step up in grade but he’s a live chance and will be hard to beat if he’s in front again, which he should be.

“The horse on our back (Hes Sweet) is a chance of outsprinting us up the straight but we came home in 57.8 last week and if he runs home in a high 57 again they’ll have to catch him, which is not easy to do round Redcliffe.”

The tight triangular track is only 835 metres in circumference with a short home straight of 170 metres.

Brian Christopher has won just two of his 10 starts but is a favourite of Lincoln Farms’ principals John and Lynn Street as he is named after their late nephew and they race him with family members Bev Glass and Kevin and Glenis Street.

Thursday chances

On Thursday, Barnes will be back at Redcliffe with Franco Nandor and Bondi Shake who should both improve on their latest runs.

Bondi Shake (race five) is disadvantaged from two on the second row but Barnes says you can put the line through his last start at Albion Park.

“He just didn’t handle the wet track at all. His previous form was good and the field isn’t overly strong this week, it’s a drop in grade for him.

“I’ll be patient with him and he could be right in the thick of it.”

Ryan Fox with Lincoln Farms owner John Street on meeting Franco Nandor for the first time after being gifted a 20% all expenses paid share.Franco Nandor will be having his third start in 10 days in the fourth race but the rating 48 to 52 event represents a massive drop in grade.

Last Saturday night he took on some very classy types in the three-year-old race won by Kashed Up, now a contender for the A$250,000 The Rising Sun on Saturday night, and runner-up Lincoln Farms’ own American Dealer.

“If he finds the top from four, and he should, he’ll be hard to beat. He was actually travelling really well on the home turn on Saturday, and that’s why Hayden came out, but it turned out he would have been better staying behind a helmet on the fence.

“I’m trying to place him as best I can at the moment. It’s hard getting runs with so many horses up here for the carnival. But he’s jumping out of his skin. He recovers, eats and goes out into his paddock and bucks his brands off.”

Franco Nandor is raced by the Streets who gave top Kiwi golfer Ryan Fox an all expenses paid share after he won the Wairakei Invitational last year, along with Denis Ebert, Steve MacDonald, Chris Prutton and Wayne Seebeck.

Franco Nandor, who cost $140,000 as a yearling, is by Mach Three out of Nicaea Franco, a daughter of 2007-08 four-year-old mare of the year Nearea Franco, winner of 11 races including a Harness Jewels at Cambridge in 1:54.4.

Captain Nemo and trainer Ray Green return to the stable at Alexandra Park after his swansong win there on June 4. PHOTO: Megan Liefting/Race Images.Nemo tied-up

Meanwhile, Lincoln Farms’ trainer Ray Green is working hard to get Captain Nemo back on track after scratching him from his assignment at Albion Park today.

“He’s tied up a little bit on us - he’s done it before - and I’ll get him right before he races again, maybe in two weeks.”

The Streets also have a big team of partners in Captain Nemo, including successful golfer Gareth Paddison, to whom they gifted a share after he finished runner-up in the Wairakei tournament, along with the South Island’s Green Machine Syndicate, Grant Dickey, Peter Dougherty and Ian Middleton.

Captain Nemo beat only one home in his Queensland debut on June 25 but was trapped three wide in the running when hanging in and pacing roughly. Driver Anthony Butt reported the horse was hitting his knees on the bends, causing him to race ungenerously.

Brian Christopher races at 7.22pm NZ time at Redcliffe on Wednesday.Franco Nandor races at 5.12pm NZ time at Redcliffe on Thursday.Bondi Shakes races at 5.47pm NZ time at Redcliffe on Thursday.