Fahy the king of cups

Southland owner Brendan Fahy is on a roll this season and Franco Sinatra’s (Captaintreacherous) win in the Alabar Methven Cup today added to his impressive tally this season.

“That Cup he won today is the sixth Cup I’ve won this season,” he said.

Franco Sinatra has now won the Wyndham, Hannon and Methven Cups while Dreams Are Free which he also owns, has won the Kurow, the Southern Country Cup Final and the Winton Cup.

In today’s pacing feature driver Carter Dalgety settled the free legged pacer back in the field but when leader Wag Star knocked off in front causing a bit of disruption he headed forward and took Franco Sinatra to the lead. From there Dalgety dictated the terms and although Mo’unga looked a danger close to home, Franco Sinatra found another gear and went down to win by half a length, running his last 800 metres on the grass in 56.1.

FRANCO SINATRA REPLAY

“I rang Carter after the race and he told me the horse did it all himself. As soon as he heard the other horses coming he just extended himself. He told me he never pulled the plugs. He just cruised it.”

The win was the gelding’s sixteenth.

Co-trainer Cran Dalgety bought Franco Sinatra for $55,000 at the 2021 NZB Standardbred Yearling Sales.

“He bought him for another fella but he went home and told his wife. She told him there was no way he was going to get a horse because she was getting a new kitchen. Cran said rather than get involved in a domestic he offered me the whole horse. I told him  Nigel (his son) and I would take half between us. Anyway, he sent out the ownership papers and they had 60% for me and 10% for Nigel (laughter).”

When it came to paying up Fahy didn’t take a whole lot of convincing.

“I like the Captaintreacherouses and I’ve always been a great believer in Western Ideal mares. I remember San Rafaella (Franco Sinatra’s dam who was by Western Ideal) when she won her first race at Invercargill. She was last at the top of the straight and won.”

After progressing through the grades Franco Sinatra found it hard to regain winning form.

“Cran rang me and suggested taking the hopples off. It was a godsend. They took all the gear off. He used to have two poles and a gaiting strap.”

So now the Go Media New Zealand Cup is definitely on the pacers radar.

“I’m not naive enough to think he could win the Cup but he justifies being in it. Cran was a bit hesitant when we paid up but I remember old Alec Milne saying, if you’re not in you certainly won’t bloody win. They love him around the place. I said to Cran that I hadn’t seen any reduction in the training fee. It only takes five minutes to put the gear on him (laughter).”  

For complete race results, click here.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink