Franco Tristan takes out Tasmanian Easter Cup

The Spreydon Lodge bred 6-year-old gelding Franco Tristan claimed the biggest win of his career to date when taking out $75,000 Group 2 Easter Cup (2,698m) at Launceston, Tasmania on April 20.

The race favourite, after a dominant victory in his heat the previous weekend, Franco Tristan began safely from the stand for trainer/driver Gavin Lang and was untroubled to find the lead with two laps to go. With some comfortable sectionals up front, Franco Tristan increased the tempo down the back the final time and was able to fend off the fast finishing pair of Scooterwillrev and Ryley Major to cross the line a metre clear of his rivals.

The winner of five races in New Zealand, first for Spreydon Lodge and then for a group of its clients, Franco Tristan has now won 11 races and $136,046 in stakes-money, as well as taking a lifetime best mark of 1:52.9 at Tabcorp Park Melton earlier in the year.

By McArdle, Franco Tristan is out of the winning Badlands Hanover mare Thoroughly Franco and is a sibling to three winners, including Thatcher Franco, the dam of the smart types Franco Tai ($90,480 7 wins, including the Listed PGG Wrightson NZ Yearling Sales Aged Pace) and Franco Texas ($73,907 6 wins).