Satire Franco successful source for Shirleys

Shiver in The Dark’s (Rock N Roll Heaven) win at Ascot Park last Thursday further highlights the success her grandam Satire Franco had at stud.

Despite not showing too much on the racetrack, Satire Franco has certainly made up for her average start to life by becoming an outstanding broodmare for Invercargill couple Brent and Raewyn Shirley.

Of the thirteen named foals she’s left, all have qualified and between them have won sixtty seven races and earned $769,455.

Satire Franco was bred by the Estate of Wayne Francis and is by Falcon Seelster out of the Holmes Hanover mare Samantha Franco.

She was bought at a mixed age sale in Christchurch by Southland stockman Vin Nally on behalf of the Shirleys for just under $10,000.

The Shirleys got an early indication that Satire Franco could be alright when When The Music’s Over was starting to show a bit of promise. He ended up winning five races for owners Raewyn Shirley and John Edminstin before winning another six in Western Australia.

Turbine by Tinted Cloud was the mare’s next foal.

“He was a very swift horse who we waited on. He won two in a row quickly. He ended up getting a virus and crook lungs and he never really raced any good after that,” Shirley told me in an earlier interview.

Dingo Deans (Live Or Die) and Little Einstein (Life Sign) were the mare’s next two foals. Both qualified but didn’t amount to much.

Rowchester, by Bettor’s Delight was the mare’s next foal and he looked quite smart winning three of his five starts in Southland before he too was exported to Western Australia where he won another eight races.

Satire Franco’s next visit was to Santanna Blue Chip, leaving I Smart (the dam of Shiver In The Dark) who won six races and was retired after her thirteenth start.

Costa Del Magnifico (Mach Three) was the next foal off the production line and his twelve wins here included the 2015 Winton Cup in race record time, the 2015 Wairio Cup, the 2016 Invercargill Cup and the 2016 Southern Country Cups Final. He was also named 2016 Southland Horse of the Year.

John Coltrane (Real Desire) who had nine starts for one win, was followed by Dunrobin (2), Glorafilla (4), Twisting By (9) and maiden pacer Ahthemightytrumpet.

Peter Van Der Looy had a great deal of success with this family, racing Vanderel who won fourteen races and Impish who won six.

The family has produced its fair share of quality colts including Smart Son, Grobbelaar, Sherlock, Kincaid, Idealindiamonds and King Of Swing.

The fillies have been good as well with the pedigree page including The Fascinator (10 wins), Opulent (18) and Twist and Twirl (7 wins).

At stud I Smart has left B Smart (3), Euro Beat (12), Smart I Am (4) and now Shiver In The Dark so the legacy continues with I suspect more to come.

by Bruce Stewart, for Harnesslink