By Jonny Turner
Victory in the Group Three Sally-Ann Pope Hannon Memorial has given Franco Sinatra a shot at making history in the New Zealand Cup.
The pacer unofficially booked his place in the country's greatest race with a determined victory at Oamaru for trainers Cran and Chrissie Dalgety and driver Carter Dalgety.
If he steps out in the New Zealand Cup, Franco Sinatra will get a chance to join the rarest of company and become the first free-legged pacer in 52 years to win the two mile feature.
Robalan did it in 1974, though there have been few attempts to complete the feat since.
Never one to back down from a challenge, Cran Dalgety can't wait to give it a go.
"It's actually a testament to the horse's attitude that we would be aiming a free-legged pacer at the New Zealand Cup.”
"He's everything you would want in a racehorse, he's great to train and have around and he tries his guts out every time he goes out there.”
"It has been quite incredible how he has kept getting better all the way through.”
"Taking the hopples might have looked like a bit of a risk at the start, but he is the sort of horse that would just take it in his stride.”
"The results since speak for themselves and you'd have to say it has been the making of his career."
Franco Sinatra went into the Hannon Memorial ranked 11th of 15 eligible spots on the New Zealand Cup order of entry.
The pacer won last year's Junior Free-For-All on New Cup Day for his largely southern-based group of owners Brendan and Nigel Fahy, Rex Knowler, Dougal Steel and Steve and Raewyn James.
The group can now dream of an even bigger thrill on the second Tuesday in November.
"We are under no illusions that it won't be easy, particularly with the depth of the Aussie horses,” Dalgety said.
"But he deserves a spot, he's got a great, loyal group of owners who will be proud as punch."
Franco Sinatra tenaciously held on to his lead in the home straight, digging in late to hold off two placegetters who were equally gritty.
Both runner-up Bettors Anvil and third placegetter Its Tough missed away before staging big recoveries to fill the placings.
The Dalgetys made Hannon Memorial Day their own by also producing Aardies Memphis, Marble Arch and Tour Party to win.
Tour Party appeared to be jogging to victory in second gear when easily winning the Diamond Creek Farm SBSR Juvenile Stakes.
But the two-year-old was actually completing the fastest closing 400m of Hannon Memorial Day in 26.4 sec.
Adding to the Canterbury domination of the Oamaru meeting, Ya Right Darl showed her class when winning the Group Three Jasmyn's Gift Stakes.
The four-year-old overcame the back mark of 20m in a faultless display in her first standing start.
