The What Ever syndicate of mainly Central Otago owners, had a day to remember yesterday when their horse Franco Ledger won the $30,000 Central Otago Cup.
Members of the 10-person syndicate were joined by a host of supporters in the enclosure for the presentation.
The syndicate races Franco Ledger with his Ryal Bush trainer-driver Hamish Hunter.
Franco Ledger has now won nine of his 23 starts and the $18,500 stake boosted his earnings to $80,556.
Hunter had won the Central Otago Cup with Nursemaid in 2006 and he drove the winner of the main race at the Central Otago meeting in 1977, Model Lord and 1974 Scottish Water, when it was for two-win pacers.
Franco Ledger will now head to the $50,000 Northern Southland Cup on Thursday week.
Ken McConnell, of Clyde, is manager of the syndicate and Central Otago members are Paul O'Neill, John Catherwood and Bevan Dowling, of Hyde, Tony O'Neill, of Gimmerburn, and Bruce Harvie, of Middlemarch.
Other members are Mike Cornelissen, of Mosgiel, Rob Wilks and Brendan McIntyre, of Invercargill, and Neil Tisdall, of Perth.
Hunter also won the race for 3yr-olds yesterday with Terrific, owned by breeder Graham Cooney.
Franco Ledger settled three back on the inner and Hunter was able to extricate him when Captain Peacock, on his outer, tangled and dropped back.
He challenged three wide into the stretch and dashed home to win by a length and a-half, the last 800m in 56.2.
Mah Sish, having his first start from the Tim Butt stable, fought on for second after settling last in the eight-horse field and heading the pacemaker, Major Mark, near the 300m. Ohoka Dallas was a length and three-quarters back third after a slight check when Captain Peacock tangled.
• It was a big day yesterday for Riversdale owners Charlie and Ailsa Smaill, when their horses, brothers Jaccka Justy and Jaccka Jack, finished first and second in the $9000 free-for-all for trotters.
Jaccka Justy is unbeaten in five starts with Charlie the trainer. The Smaills also bred Keisha Jaccka, a maiden winner yesterday for the Goldfinger syndicate from the stable of Murray Brown.
Vulcan, the hot favourite in the free-for-all trot, faded to third after racing close up in the open.
