Group 1 double for Franco Edward

Franco Edward cemented himself as the best 2-year-old pacer in Western Australia this season with a second Group 1 victory in Friday's $125,000 Golden Slipper (2,130m) at Gloucester Park.

An easy, front-running winner of the Group 1 2YO Pearl Classic last month, this time round the Spreydon Lodge bred youngster faced a more difficult task from his second row draw.

Forced to settle towards the back of the field, trainer/driver Kyle Harper made his move with 800m to go, sprinting up three-wide to sit outside the leading pair Soho Thunderstruck and Shockwave.

After accounting for the above two pacers, Franco Edward prevailed by a half head in a tight finish from Bletchley Park, with the early season Group 1 winner Its Rock And Roll 2.7m back in third place.

Franco Edward's 1:56 mile rate for the 2,130m trip was just 0.1 of a second outside of the race record and was 0.3 seconds quicker than Chicago Bull's winning time in the free-for-all class race on the night.

Sold at the 2017 NZ Premier Yearling Sale for just $17,500, Franco Edward is proving an astute purchase, with four wins from six starts to date and over $156,000 in stakes-earnings.

By American Ideal, Franco Edward is the first foal of the un-raced Changeover mare Edinburgh Franco, a half-sister to the former Harness Jewels and Messenger Championship winner Franco Emirate and the smart WA based mare Eden Franco.