Tough opposition on Saturday night but Al’s hoping Franco Nandor can measure up
By Barry Lichter • 18 June 2021
Franco Nandor faces a strong field at Albion Park on Saturday night but trainer Al Barnes is keen to see how Lincoln Farms’ new Queensland import measures up.
Most of the three-year-olds in the eighth race have won far more races than Franco Nandor, and gone much faster, but Barnes says with his ability to sit on the speed he shouldn’t be far away.
“I don’t think a fast time would worry him - he was very keen when he ran 1:56 last week - and he might surprise us a bit.”
Franco Nandor was having his first start in Brisbane last Friday night when second at long odds to the $1.22 hotpot The Raconteur.
Hunted hard out of the gate, Barnes got half a length on the favourite before having to pull back and he just managed to squeeze into the trail ahead of the second row horse who rushed up to try to claim the spot.
The spilt second manoeuvre was the subject of a protest and ended up costing Barnes a $300 fine for tightening but it gave Franco Nandor the run of the race.
Franco Nandor has died on his run but is still only two metres second to hotpot The Raconteur.And in the run home the three-year-old lodged a likely challenge before just “running out of puff in the last 75 metres” and finishing two metres second.
“He was underdone last week and it was my first drive on him,” says Barnes.
“He didn’t appreciate me hitting him on the bum either so this time I’ll try to hold him together and make him feel brave rather than letting his mouth go.”
Barnes says if Sydneysider The Raconteur had been in this week’s race he’d have started quite short in the betting so he doesn’t believe Franco Nandor is out of it.
“It’s a strong race but there are no derby horses in there - except maybe Watts Up Sunshine (10 wins and six placings from 22 starts) - but they say Nandor’s tough.
“I was going to put him in next week’s Redcliffe Derby but it looks like Krug and a few other good ones will be running there so we’ll see how he measures up on Saturday.
“I’m not sure if he can cross from four but we’ll run the gate and see how quick he is. Hopefully we can get across to the rail and take a sit. If he can sit on the speed I’d like to think he can run top four or five.
“His trackwork was good during the week.”
Franco Nandor races at 10.41pm NZ time at Albion Park on Saturday night.
More news in Harness
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
Video clue on why Lincoln Lover is tipped to go boldly fresh-up at Auckland on Friday night
Our runners this week: How our trainers rate them
Ray’s comments
Thursday night at Cambridge
Race 3: Lincoln Downs
6.22pm
“She got home really well on the second night at Manawatu and gets a good draw here. There’s not much exposed form in the race so it’s hard to know how she compares but she’ll win one.”
Ray’s comments
Friday night at Auckland
Race 3: Debbie Lincoln
7.01pm
“I thought she went super again last week with no luck and we’ve got a decent draw for a change so you have to like her chances. She’s been getting in on the corners, so we’ve added a Murphy blind.”
Race 3: Tyson
7.01pm
“I was impressed by the way he hung on to Captain Sampson and Greased Lightnin last week. They’re strong sprinters and it was only a sprint up the straight. He’ll need things to go his way from six.”
Race 3: Sugar Ray Lincoln
7.01pm
“It was his first run for a while last week and he probably needed another trial. But we thought we might as well race him to set him up for this week. The outside draw of eight doesn’t help.”
Race 9: Lincoln Lover
9.55pm
“He’s not as sharp as our other two but he’s a game little bugger. He’ll win races for sure.”
Race 9: Prince Lincoln
9.55pm
“I thought he went really well last week. He’d had only one trial and was a bit fresh so it was understandable that he got tired the last bit. That will tighten him up and I’m expecting him to race well. He’s trained on well since.”
Race 9: Johnny Lincoln
9.55pm
“Prince has the wood on Johnny but he’ll still go well. He found the line well last week. It was his first run for a while too, and his first as a gelding.”
