Past Southern Country Cups winner – Franco Ledger

Franco Ledger, (Falcon Seelster) one of Southlands favourite harness racing son’s, scored a popular win in the 2012 Southern Country Cups Final at Ascot Park.

Owned by the socially active What Ever Syndicate and the quieter trainer Hamish Hunter, the entire who started favourite from the 30 metre handicap settled just beyond midfield before getting a sit in the one one behind Poacher. At the 350 metre mark Hunter set him alight and to the roar of his many backers he stormed down the middle of the track to win by two lengths from Donthavtime, driven by junior reinsman Adam Sanderson.

The winning time of 3-25.5 was a new race record.

Franco Ledger recorded twenty five wins in his stellar career and took home $682,514. in earnings.

Hunter also won the 2009 edition of the Southern Country Cups Final with Russland which was driven by Jordan Compain.

Next Sunday the Invercargill HRC will host Diamonds Day at Ascot Park. Impressive feature races include the $110,000 Group One Diamond Creek Farm Two Year Old Classic, the $60,000 Group Two Macca Lodge/Nevele R Southern Oaks, the $60,000 Group Two Alabar Supremacy Stakes, the $50,000 Group Three Entain Two Year Old Mobile Trot and the $40,000 Regent Car Court Southern Country Cups Final.

This truly spectacular day of racing will get underway at 12 noon.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink