Last NZ start for Francent

Canada is calling talented pacing mare Francent (Vincent) who has her final harness racing start on NZ soil tonight at Alexandra Park.

Sold into the stable of Canadian horseman Jacques Dupont, the 12-win mare is a $1.40 favourite to win tonight’s Charles Roberts N.I.S.B.A Stakes in Auckland, looking to sign off on a successful harness racing career here in the right fashion.

And for trainer Mark Jones, the daughter of Vincent is one he won’t be forgetting in a long time.

“She’ll always be well remembered around here fondly,” he said.

“You can laugh about it now, but we actually sacked her as a young horse and she returned to be our stable flagbearer for the past 12 months, so it’s a pretty unique story.”

Bred on the West Coast by Bob Higgins and raced by a syndicate of family members, Francent has been a victim of her own success and with opportunities limited going forward the decision was made to sell.

“She’s done an amazing job and is actually getting better but it’s not fair on her to have to race Marketplace and Got The Chocolates. She can head to America and only ever race against her own sex.”

Jones said being able to be a part of such a special story for the Higgins family was a real highlight.

“Being the first Gr.1 winner for Bob after 50 years of breeding was pretty cool, especially with the family ownership. A lot of thanks has to go to Steve Little too, he spent a lot of time with her helping when she was over on the coast.”

They’ll all be able to follow with interest from afar after tonight and take confidence in the fact that new trainer Dupont knows a little bit about Kiwi mares, especially ones from Overport Lodge.

One of his stable’s leading players at the moment is the former Jones trained mare Let’s N Joy who has won nine from 11 this year and is one of the best mares in Canada.

Crystal Hackett will be in the bike tonight for the final hurrah for the big mare with the big motor and with 12 wins, eight placings and close to $270,000 in the bank there’s room for a little bit more to be added to the passport before she heads to her next adventure.

by Matt Markham