By Jonny Turner
Cran Dalgety hopes Franco Sinatra won't reach his peak in the Group Three Sally-Ann Donnelly Hannon Memorial on Sunday.
The pacer goes into the New Zealand Cup lead-up following a slashing fifth in the recent New Brighton Cup at Addington.
That outing was Franco Sinatra’s first since he was given a let-up following an excellent autumn campaign.
Though he is just a few months away from turning seven, Dalgety is sure his pacer is only getting better.
And the trainer hopes that momentum won’t stop any time soon.
"We are putting him in the fine wine category," Dalgety said.
"He's always been a lovely horse, but he's now battle-hardened in these all-age group races."
"We hope he is not done yet and he can keep improving."
A year ago, Franco Sinatra ran a solid but unspectacular seventh in the Hannon Memorial.
The pacer returns a different prospect in 2026.
"He actually raced through from the early winter last year."
"This year he has had more of a traditional build up for the spring and we couldn't be happier with him."
"I was chuffed with his first run back, to get home like he did on fast fractions."
"He's taken a lot of benefit from that run and we head to Oamaru thinking we are not there just to make up the numbers."
The Cran and Chrissie Dalgety stable have a number of key winning chances at Oamaru on Sunday.
None will start shorter than their star two-year-old Tour Party.
While he has many Group One targets in the spring, the Oamaru Juvenile Stakes is an important stepping stone to them.
"We'd like to get some good racing into him and build up his fitness reserves so that he's ready to go to war when those better races come around."
"This race is a great opportunity to do that."
"He's taken good improvement from his first run back and though he will take more from this run, he will race very good."
The Visionary starts alongside Tour Party and looks a place threat from barrier 1.
After placing at Addington in their latest outings, Aardies Memphis and Marble Arch both look key winning threats at Oamaru.
"Marble Arch slots into a nice grade and get the ace draw which he can utilise."
"He's matched it with some handy horses so he should be very competitive."
"Aardies Memphis was quite brave in a pretty handy maiden race in his debut at Addington.”
"He's been lucky enough to get the one draw as well, which should be a big help for him too."
Carter Dalgety pilots the Dalgety team on Sunday, with Anthony Butt to drive The Visionary.
