Unbeaten in six starts, but assessed as a two-win horse for handicap purposes, Franco Emirate has not raced since May 27 when he was successful at Addington.
Craig Thornley has been engaged to drive Franco Emirate at Oamaru.
Jim Curtin, the trainer of the Christian Cullen 4yr-old, is facing another five weeks with his arm in a splint.
He fractured his wrist when a horse pulled back in work on May 27.
He underwent surgery to have the injury pinned.
Thornley drove Franco Emirate to win at his first start at Gore in December when the gelding was trained by Steven McRae.
Franco Emirate changed stables after being purchased by Russell Nieper, of Dunedin.
Franco Emirate, who started from 10m, won his workout over 2600m in 3.27.2, the last 800m in 57.5.
He won by half a length from The Gigolo, who started from 50m.
The Gigolo, winner of 12 races, including the Nelson and Marlborough Summer Cups, has not raced since March, 2008 when he was sidelined with a suspensory ligament problem.
Anvils Big Punt, who was spelled in March after winning twice in six starts, won a workout at Rangiora on Saturday.
He ran the 2000m (mobile) in 2.29.4, the last 800m in 59.1.
He won by a nose from Christian World (six wins).
Shezoneoftheboyz, winner of the New Zealand Trotting Derby in March, has joined the Melbourne stable of Craig Demmler.
Shezoneoftheboyz, trained initially by Neil Munro and subsequently by Mark Jones, won the first five of her nine starts.
In Like Magic, who joined the Jones stable a fortnight earlier, won at Washdyke yesterday.
Bigtime Blue Jean (seven wins) has been sidelined with a broken pedal bone.
He sustained the injury at the Timaru meeting on September 12.
Auckland Reactor is into his second week of a fortnight in quarantine at Karaka before taking up stud duty at the Stallion Station at Rangiora.
He will stand alongside his sire, Mach Three.
Ray was lame in a front leg after the Ordeal Cup at Addington on Friday night. The favourite, he left stride in the run home after leading.
"He is a little bit off and we will just have to readdress things with him," Tim Butt, his trainer, said.
Butt said he would nominate Stunin Cullen for the Hannon Memorial at Oamaru next Sunday and assess the entries before making a decision on a start.
Stunin Cullen is assured of a start in the New Zealand Cup after his win in the New Brighton Cup on Friday night.
The Fiery Ginga was found to have bled from a hind heel in the Ordeal Cup.
His trainer, Alan Clark, was fined $200 for a breach of the push-out rule.
He shifted Leighton Hest and Roydon Flash wide at the 1500m.
