Franco Tiger reaching for the stars

Press, 6 September 1989, Page 49

Franco Tiger reaching for the stars

Otago correspondent Franco Tiger qualified for the D.B. Superstar Championship at the New Brighton meeting in the next fortnight when he won first up at Forbury Park last Saturday evening.

Franco Tiger, which was backed down to $1.55 to win and $1.25 for a place, won decisively. He trailed close up on the outer for most of the way. Gavan Ryder angled him wide at the 300 m and Franco Tiger came on to win by a length and a quarter. The win signalled a return to the ranks of owners and trainers for Kevin Ryder, of West Melton. Ryder, aged 67, has been an owner and trainer for more than 40 years with Tempest Tiger (the dam of Franco Tiger), Forta Ca valla, Knowing Charlie and Ambleside among his winners, but he had not raced a horse since By

The Way, which won six races, two seasons ago.

Ryder secured the four-year-old Franco Tiger, a Bo Scot’s Blue ChipTempest Tiger gelding, two months ago. “Wayne Francis gave me three horses Addington Breeding, Ltd, wanted to sell. I sent two of them back, but I decided to persevere with Franco Tiger, although he was hard to steer and hit a knee. I thought he was worth a bit more time being out of Tempest Tiger,” said Ryder. His decision was as Tempest Tiger won seven races, including the 1979 New Zealand Messenger, from 12 starts when owned and trained by Ryder. He bred Kinda Smooth (1:58.2) from Tempest Tiger (Tiger Wave —Lumber’s Sister) before selling her, in foal to El Patron, to Addington Breeding, Ltd. The foal was Tango Franco, which won a heat

of the DB Export series for three-year-old fillies at Forbury Park last year. Ryder plans to start Franco Tiger in the First D.B. Superstar Trial at Addington on Saturday. This race, for a stake of $7500, is restricted to Cl four-year-olds. • Doncaster made a winning first appearance for the Lauder horseman, Murray Hamilton, in the Cl event. Doncaster sprinted from seventh to lead at the 700 m and he won untested. He was placed with Hamilton four months ago by his Otama owner, Colin Baynes, with a view to being sold. Hamilton recently exported CO pacers, Kate’s Comet, Shady Lord and Quote’s Comet. Kate’s Comet ran third to Adrenalin and Celebration in the Southland Oaks Final at Gore in April. He took over Sepoy from Baynes at the same time as Doncaster and has

sent the C 3 six-year-old to Peter Blanchard at Pukekohe. • Aquatic, well-rated in front by Robert Cameron, was untroubled to win the C 3 event. He led after 700 m and won by 2’4 lengths from Lord Raja, which trailed him. Glenburn Star made a belated run for third. He was second last and about six lengths from the lead until the 300 m. • Iris Pointer did well to win the Southern Motor Court Handicap. Iris Pointer, which was having her first race for five months, was forced three wide from the 1200 m when attempting to improve from midfield. She was involved in a skirmish at the 700 m and finished resolutely to win by half a head from Rebel Shooter, which trailed Game Wood in the lead.

Egnal, which was in the open, held on well for a close third.