By Jonny Turner
A big weekend got bigger when Kentuckiana Lodge pacer Franco Sinatra smashed the national 1700m record at Ashburton on Sunday.
The Cran and Chrissie Dalgety trained pacer took a full second off the previous mark when running his rivals ragged in free-for-all company, stopping the clock in a 1.50.8 mile-rate.
Franco Sinatra has stamped himself as a standout performer and extremely genuine since he was purchased at the National Yearling Sales by Kentuckiana Lodge for owners Brendan and Nigel Fahy, Rex Knowler, Dougal Steel and Steve and Raewyn James.
While his victory was far from a shock for the Cran, Chrissie and Carter Dalgety combination, the pacer's winning time was much more of a surprise.
"He is the sort of horse you just love having around,” Cran said.
"There's just nothing not to like about him, he's genuine and sound and just a pleasure to have anything to do with."
"He's that clean-gaited we don't even have to pack much of a gear bag for him either."
"We went into the race quite hopeful and it wasn't a big surprise that he was able to get the job done."
"But the surprise came with the time because he didn't look like he was burning up the track."
"If you'd asked me, I would say yes he is capable of that sort of clip, but he did it quite comfortably and he probably didn't look to be going as fast as he was."
"Carter said he was just in the zone and happy in his work."
“We are thrilled because it’s lovely recognition for a horse that has done a tremendous job for his owners and our stable.”
Franco Sinatra's first 12 wins came at Addington before he won the Wyndham Cup and then Ashburton's free-for-all on Sunday.
The pacer has made several trips to Otago and Southland this year, arguably travelling as much as any top-echelon horse in New Zealand.
His national record at Ashburton showed that his busy travel and racing schedule hasn't knocked him.
In fact, it's only made him better.
"He's just a true professional and doesn't take anything extra out of himself."
"He's raced at all levels and he has had that hardening from taking on the best of the best at times."
"He's given his owners as well as our team plenty of thrills along the way and we hope there are a few more to come because right now he's as good as he has ever been."
Franco Sinatra will be freshened in the short term with few opportunities available for him over winter.
However, he will be back soon enough to attack the open class opportunities in the late winter and early spring.
