TURF
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
ARMIDALE owned filly Madam Fran (Robert Thompson) broke the class record when she made her NSW debut by leading all the way to win yesterday’s $15,000 SEH Equine Dentistry Three Year Old Maiden (900m) at Scone.
In the process she helped her Scone trainer, Rod Northam, bookend the meeting when Conquer, also a new addition to his stable and also ridden by Thompson, won the last race of the day, the Scone Equine Hospital Benchmark 65 (1100m).
Madam Fran was previously trained in Brisbane by Brian Smith and had three starts for a debut second in mid-week company at Eagle Farm before failing at two starts after that at the Sunshine Coast.
The large syndicate that races Madam Fran took the decision to switch her to Northam after some disappointing form in Queensland.
“She is a cracking type, she is too good looking not to be able to gallop,” Northam said.
“Her work had been good and I didn’t trial her because she had trialled well in Brisbane then not raced well.
“She is a QTIS filly so we will take her through her grades but at some stage she will go back to Brisbane to try and win some of the bonuses.”
Syndicate manager, Peter Crick, said Smith had done a great job with Madam Fran.
“She had all sorts of setbacks and injuries but we decided that if we were going to persevere with her she should come down to Scone and see if she measured up,” Crick said.
“There are more options down here with tracks like Tamworth, Muswellbrook and Newcastle in easy reach.”
The filly was bred by Armidale’s Allan Chapple and leased by him to the syndicate while he also retained a share.
Madam Fran’s time, 52.57secs easily eclipsed the previous best of 53.10 secs set by Battle Queen at this meeting last year.
She was moving away on the line to win by a length from the odds on favourite Dual Star.
Two races later Paul Messara produced a promising type when Orpheus (Mitchell Bell) made up a lot of ground late to win the SEH Professional Sales Radiology Maiden (1300m) on debut.
The Graham Payne trained Full Marks (Rachel King) opened up a big break and was still four or five lengths in front at the 300 metres but Orpheus ran home strongly to over take him and win by a length.
“That was a good effort from a horse having his first start,” Bell said.
“We were lucky that leader set a solid pace and gave him something to chase.
“He is obviously a horse that will get 2000 metres or further later on.”
Orpheus, a $300,000 yearling buy, is a half brother to the multiple Hong Kong winner Familists and a full brother to the 2007 Group Two Edward Manifold Stakes winner El Daana.
Bell made it a double in the following race, the SEH Specialists In Equine Surgery Class Three (900m) on the Pat Farrell trained Quick Exit.
He settled the big son of Youthful Legs in fourth place early behind the leader Coventry, trained at Tamworth by Sue Grills, which set up a sizeable break.
However Bell got a run on Quick Exit soon after straightening and it and the Leon Davies-trained Blinkin Rockin gradually worse down the leader with Quick Exit beating Blinkin Rockin by a head with Coventry hanging on for third, a further length away.