Franco Emirate was beaten a nose by Tennis Ball in the Green Mile at Methven at his last start on December 12.
Tennis Ball ran a track record 1.57.1.
That is the only time Franco Emirate has raced on grass.
His Dunedin owner Russell Nieper and trainer Jim Curtin combined to win the 2005 Westport Cup with Highview Badlands.
Curtin drove Tania's Boy to win the race in 1989.
Highview Badlands earned the $20,000 West Coast bonus that year.
He also won at Westport two days later and the Reefton Cup on December 30.
Highview Badlands won $54,000 in stakes and bonuses that week.
The 2009 West Coast bonus is $10,000, the same as last year, when it was restricted to horses who had not previously won a race, being successful on the two days at Westport and one day at Reefton.
• Ardlussa Express, a maiden winner at Wyndham two starts back, has joined the Burnham stable of Mark Jones after being bought by Merv Butterworth, of Melbourne.
Butterworth races Babes Boy Bob from the Jones stable.
Western Flare (three wins) has also joined the Jones stable.
• Willie V C, a last-start winner at Gore on December 7 from the Winton stable of Jonny Cox, is now trained by Graeme Anderson and Amber Hoffman.
The 4yr-old has won three races.
• El Alamein, who has not raced since July, won a trial at Forbury Park on Monday.
El Alamein won at Forbury Park in April for trainer Stu Campbell after transferring from Trevor Craddock at Westport.
