Franco Emirate gave Dunedin owner, Russell Nieper, his biggest win when successful in the $100,000 group one New Zealand Messenger Championship at Alexandra Park last night.
Franco Emirate was taken to the front at the 1900m by trainer Jim Curtin after being three wide and proved too strong in the run home.
Franco Emirate has now won 12 times and gained four minor placings in 17 starts for $179,638 in stakes.
Nieper bought Franco Emirate 15 months ago as a 3yr-old after he had won his first start at Gore in December, 2009 for Spreydon Lodge and trainer Steven McRae.
The gelded son of Christian Cullen and Elisit Franco was bred by Spreydon Lodge.
• Mark Purdon trained and drove his first Rowe Cup winner when the Interdominion Trotters' champion I Can Doosit came with the last run to win the $200,000 group one feature last night.
• Ronnoco gave owner Kath O'Connor a win at Forbury Park on Thursday night with the first horse she has raced.
She lives near the Knapdale stable of Robin Swain and Colin Baynes, who train Ronnoco. She has assisted at the stable for some 20 years.
The 3yr-old Ronnoco was having his second start. She bought the son of Enrique in embryo with his dam, Deselle, for $750 from an advertisement in the New Zealand Harness Weekly.
"I wanted to have my own mare," O'Connor said.
She has an 8ha property running horses and ponies.
Ronnoco is the first winner sired by Enrique, a son of Presidential Ball and Hint who won five races when trained by Geoff Small. He is now in Australia.
Ronnoco is the ninth foal of Deselle (by Jefferson Lobell), who has left minor winners Amistad and Calafia.
• Kai Bree She was declared a late scratching at Forbury Park on Thursday night after the Judicial Control Authority representatives ruled that the horse had been impeded by a starter's assistant at the start.
Peraki Chief was a late scratching from the same race when checked at the start.
• Covert Action has returned an elevated TCO2 (bicarbonate) sample after finishing third at Cambridge on April 28 the Racing Integrity Unit states. Covert Action is trained by Todd Mitchell.
• Joint Effort, winner of the New Zealand Grand National Hurdles in August, has been sidelined with a tendon injury and she may not race again.
"She has a slight hole in a flexor tendon and she is out for nine months," Allan Stalker, her Mossburn owner-trainer, said.
"Whether I will bring her back or not, I am not sure." The 8yr-old has won five races on the flat and five over hurdles for Stalker and Auckland breeders, Stuart and Sue Murray.
She was to have contested the Great Western Hurdles at Riverton tomorrow.
• Appeals by jockey Patrick Holmes against a charge of careless riding and suspension were dismissed at a hearing in Auckland yesterday.
Holmes appealed the finding that he was guilty of careless riding in the Hawkes Bay Cup on April 23 in that he allowed Seaflyte to shift in and strike the running rail near the finish. He was thrown from the horse. He was suspended for five riding days . His suspension due to begin last Sunday will now take effect from the conclusion of racing today. Holmes is riding at Rotorua today.
The appeal was heard by Geoff Hall and Richard Seabrook.
• Additional information for meetings today:
Racing Rotorua:
Scratchings:
Race 4: Dan's Best.
Race 5: Partner In Time.
Race 6: Han Solo.
Race 7: Mr Mo.
Race 10: Jennie Cool Cat, Dangereux.
Weather, showery; track, slow (9); rail, true.
Canterbury JC:
Scratchings:
Race 1: The Hand Of Faith.
Race 3: Aronsay.
Race 4: The Jester.
Race 5: Easy Access.
Race 7: Keepitinthefamily.
Race 8: Lionsgate.
Race 10: The Bishop, Pauhatu.
Weather, overcast; track, heavy (10); rail, true.
