Nemera Franco brings up 200 wins for McRae and winning start for syndicate

Nemera Franco's impressive win at Motukarara Raceway yesterday afternoon was a significant one for Spreydon Lodge, with her victory not only bringing up trainer Steve McRae's 200th training success, but also representing an auspicious start for the training establishment's first ever racing lease syndicate.

Though a winning debut for the Bettor's Delight - Nature Franco filly certainly didn't look like it was on the cards soon after the start with the 3-year-old race favourite galloping away before settling at the tail of the field in The Famous Grouse Hotel Pace. Still last with 400m to go Nemera Franco stormed home out wide to score what in the end was a relatively comfortable, one and a quarter length victory over another Spreydon Lodge bred pacer, in the Ben Waldron trained Franco Garcia (Live Or Die - Ghandi Franco).

Spreydon Lodge's head trainer since the 2004-5 season, the majority of McRae's 200 wins have not surprisingly come in the company's yellow and blue diamond colours and have included Group 1 wins by the two-time NZ Aged Pacing Mare of the Year Nearea Franco and the Sires Stakes Final winner Franco Nelson.

With a focus on selling, McRae has also developed a number of other outstanding performers over the years, including the Harness Jewels and Messenger Championship winner Franco Emirate and the three-time Australian Group 1 winner and now US Grand Circuit star Nike Franco.

The well bred Nemera Franco, who is a half-sister to five other winners, including the 1:52.1, 12 win Eh Ef El and the Australian Listed winner Franco Nepia, was the first starter for the Spreydon Lodge Racing Lease Syndicate No. 1, a large group of both new and existing racehorse owners, whom also have a half lease share in two other nicely bred 3-year-olds with Spreydon Lodge.

It was a good weekend for Spreydon Lodge with the company grabbing a double at Motukarara with Selena Franco recording her second career win in The Canterbury Trotting Owners Association Mobile Pace and across the Tasman, Eden Franco finishing a gallant fourth in the Group 1 Westral Mares Classic at Gloucester Park on Inter-Dominion Final night.