Franco Sinatra better than a lot of people realise

Franco Sinatra (Captaintreacherous) has a long way to go to be in the top three open class pacers in his own harness racing stable let alone be a New Zealand Cup horse.

But co-trainer Cran Dalgety says Friday night’s impressive Garrards National Handicap Pace winner might be better than a lot of people realise.

The odds-on favourite found himself last of the five horses remaining in the race after Black Mach blew the start and with his rivals playing cat and mouse in front of him, Dalgety admits he thought Franco Sinatra was in trouble coming to the closing stages of the $25,000 centrepiece of the night.

“They were all pulling out and half carting and mucking around from the 800m and I thought we were in trouble,” says Dalgety.

“But really he has hoovered them up really easily when Blair let him go so it was a pretty good win.

“He just keeps getting better this horse and I think that continue too. I know the National used to be the first stepping stone to the New Zealand Cup but times have changed and clearly these days we see some horses winning the Cup with only two or three starts under their belt that campaign.

“So I doubt this horse will get there this year but there are a lot of very good races around for him and who knows what next season will bring.”

FRANCO SINATRA REPLAY

Dalgety has three genuine open class stars in the wings waiting to step out in public in three weeks.

Stable favourite Krug will be back alongside Republican Party while former Victoria Cup winner Rock N Roll Doo is now part of Team Dalgety.

“They are all coming up well and on the same sort of timeline.

“So when you know how good those horses are and the other bigger guns you realise how good you need to be an open class horse.”

While Franco Sinatra’s victory was clearly the win of the night there was plenty to like about how Amaretto Franco recorded her third win from four starts in the last two months earlier in the night in the Tyre General Mobile Pace.

She paced her last 800m in 56.1, the final 400m in 27.7 to beat Its Tough, the same horse she beat last time and as she physically and mentally matures she looks a mare who could end up in good races for trainer Steven McRae.

Tectonic took out the major trot, the Trackside Dining Available 30th August Handicap Trot, when Bob Butt used his stamina to move to sit parked and put the leader away on the bend, meaning favourites Mr Love and Aardiebythehill were left with too much to do from back in the field in a 27.7 last 400m.

For complete race results, click here.

by Michael Guerin, for Harness Racing New Zealand