Stronger Franco Nandor tees off fresh campaign in winning style at Pukekohe

Trainer Ray Green is looking forward to an even better version of the Franco Nandor we saw earlier in the season after his all-the-way win at today’s Pukekohe workouts.

Green opted to spell the Mach Three gelding after his last start win at Auckland on August 6, convinced that time would be his best friend.

And it was a lot stronger Franco Nandor who sped straight to the front today and staved off a bevy of challengers late without being pressured by driver Andre Poutama.

The three-year-old held last-start winner Cruzee Mach at bay, along with Flying Steps and Hezacrocwatcher in a neck, head and neck finish, clocking 2:37.1 for the mobile 2050 metres.

That represented a mile rate of 2:03.4, and saw the horse record solid closing sectionals of 57.4 and 27.2.

Franco Nandor on his way to scoring a last-start win at Alexandra Park. PHOTO: Megan Leifting/Race Images.“He seems a lot stronger now,” said Green. “We paid quite a lot for him so I’d like to think he’ll lift his game this time in.”

Out of the 11-race winner Nearea Franco, who won a Harness Jewels at Cambridge in 1:54.4 and was the 2007-08 four-year-old mare of the year, Franco Nandor cost $140,000 as a yearling.

He is now raced by Lincoln Farms owners John and Lynne Street along with Denis Ebert, Steve MacDonald, Chris Prutton, Wayne Seebeck and top golfer Ryan Fox who was gifted a 20% share by the Streets after winning the Wairakei Invitational at Taupo in June.

Pacy poppet

One of Lincoln Farms’ cheapest buys at the same Christchurch sale, Themightyserina, made a late start to her career at today’s workouts in winning fashion.

The American Ideal filly contested an unqualified heat over 2050 metres along with two of her stablemates Brodie Lindenny and Bettor Copy and in a blanket finish came out on top by a neck.

Little Themightyserina has needed time to strengthen. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.Driver Andrew Drake had the little filly parked early but eased back into third behind her stablemates after a few hundred metres.

Hooked out into the running line 600 metres from home, Themightyserina showed a tidy turn of foot to sprint past soon after turning for home and was doing her job well at the finish in 2:43.7, a mile rate of 2:08.5, closing in 28.1.

“She’s a speedy little thing,” Green. “She’s just taken time to strengthen up. She couldn’t cope last prep but has grown and done well this time in.”

Though small, Green described Themightyserina as gorgeous and a must buy when he signed for her in Christchurch in 2019 for just $22,000. Themightyserina is out of Themightykendall, a full sister to champion pacer Themightyquinn, winner of 58 races and $5.5 million.

Brodie Lindenny … proved a handful early on. PHOTO: Trish Dunell.Brodie Lindenny, also having his first workout, finished well on the inner to claim second.

The Bettor’s Delight three-year-old, who is out of seven-race winner Lady Dancer, was a tough nut to crack early on, Green said.

“He was a bit of a handful for a while but he’s improving all the time and looks to have come good now. He just needed time.”

Bettor Copy, who flew the gate to lead the heat for Zachary Butcher, fought on solidly for fourth, just two necks and a nose from the winner.

The Bettor’s Delight filly, who won a faster workout a week earlier, was a $5000 weanling buy by Green’s wife Debbie who will be hoping she can emulate the deeds of her two previous cheap buys, Hard Copy and Copy That.

“She didn’t show much early but is coming to it nicely now,” said Green. “She’s a typical Bettor’s Delight and grows another leg when asked to run.”