The injury plagued elite grade pacer Franco Nelson is to have a change of scenery once again as he heads over to join the Victorian barn of former Kiwi driver Anthony Butt

Anthony and his new partner are in the process of setting up a small boutique stable on Gavin Lang's old property and there wouldn't be a better horse to get things under way with

The six year old son of Christian Cullen is lightly raced considering he was mixing it with the best at two and Anthony will be his fourth trainer to date in his stop start career.

Franco Nelson had his last start for his present trainer Michael House in the $57,500 Waikato Flying Mile at Cambridge Raceway on Friday night where he ran a very creditable third after leading easily off the gate in the hands of his soon to be regular pilot Anthony Butt who made the trip from Melbourne to drive the entire.

Anthony is thrilled to have been given the opportunity to be involved with a horse of the class of Franco Nelson.

" He went great in the New Zealand Cup in his first run for such a long time and Dexter had no luck in the Auckland Cup, being shoved out wide at the 800 metres mark so I think you can disregard that run".

" There are so many opportunities for a horse like him in Australia"

" With his proven class, he shouldn't be a hard horse to place," Anthony said.

Anthony is not getting ahead of himself, fully aware of all the issues that have troubled the star pacer in recent times.

" I have been really lucky in having such a quality horse sent to me to train but I have a pool there which he needs so I can do a lot of the day to day work with him."

" If we can get him back to his best, it could be very exciting."

" I can't wait to get him home and and sort out a programme for him," said Anthony.

Franco Nelson is not the only horse that has Anthony excited heading into the major cup races and series in Victoria.

" I have driven Keystone Del to his last two wins since he joined Brent's barn and he has gone super both times."

" I think he will be very competitive when all the big trotting races come around," Anthony said.

Anthony is also hopeful of attracting some more New Zealand owned horses to his new training establishment.

" It would work out great if a few more horses came over from home."

" There are great opportunities here for a promising horse and I more than happy to look after any visitors as well," Anthony said.

Harnesslink Media

This is a corrected version of a article Harnesslink first published on Friday 8th January 2016.