3 Win Saturday - Francee Ferocious in Cup

Premiership leading trainers Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson recorded their 18th stakes' victory this season when Francee (5 m Iffraaj – Calveen, by Canny Lad) scored by the barest of margins in the $80,000 Listed James Bull Rangitkei Cup (1600m) on Saturday at Trentham.

The season has been highlighted with Group One wins by Captured By Love (Written Tycoon) in the NZ 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m), and two-year-olds Return To Conquer (Snitzel) in the Sistema Stakes (Gr. 1, 1200) and La Dorada (Super Seth) in the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr. 1, 1400m), while La Dorada also won the Karaka Million 2YO (Restricted Listed, 1200m), and Damask Rose (Savabeel) won both the Karaka Million 3YO (Restricted Listed, 1600m) and inaugural running of the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (Restricted Listed, 1500m).

A winner on Champions Day (8 March) at Ellerslie, when securing a $70,000 Pearl Series bonus in addition to the $69,000 winning stake, Francee had since finished third again at Ellerslie, and closed belatedly for fifth in the delayed Listed Anzac Mile on 27 April at Wanganui.

With her recent form at Ellerslie, where she had been very competitive racing for high stakes, and the fact that she had also shown to be capable of handling some give in ground, Francee carried minimum weight (53kg) and the team believed she could measure up.

Ridden by Brazilian jockey Bruno Queiroz (24), who had previously ridden winners for Te Akau in Singapore, Francee settled handily from barrier four, saved ground on the inside of runners as the field fanned wide turning for home, was level with the leaders 200m out and, in a desperate finish, she had her all-important nose in front on the line - giving her recently-arrived rider his first New Zealand stakes' victory.

On Soft6 footing, Francee ran 1600 metres in 1:37.0 and paid $11.70 & $3.20 on the NZ TAB tote.

Bred and owned by Haunui Farm owner and Auckland Thoroughbred Racing deputy chairman Mark Chitty, Francee is out of Group One Easter Handicap winner Calveen. 

On the biggest day in the history of New Zealand racing, Champions Day (8 March) at Ellerslie, with overall stakes of $8.2 million, the Chitty family had celebrated success when Francee won the first race on the card, and on this occasion Mark was on course (Ellerslie) carrying out race day duties, while also taking part in a reunion of Massey University old boys.

“Fantastic, she’s been a mare who hasn't always had luck on her side on race day, but Mark and Sam and the Te Akau team has done a wonderful job,” Chitty said.

“We went to Wanganui last time, and that was a good run, and great for Bruno (Queiroz) to win a stakes' race so early on in New Zealand.

“Winning a black type race with a well related mare is the icing on the cake for her. She’s out of Group One winner raced by Rochelle and the late Don McLaren. There’s plenty of thoughts for Don. He was a great client of mine and to be racing a daughter of one of his favourite mares makes it very special.

“I’m at a Massey University reunion, so to win Jim Bull's race in the Rangitikei Cup is also quite fitting.

“She’s been up a little while, so we’ll savour the moment and have a chat with Mark and Sam to see what her future may hold. But it’s a fantastic family to breed from and getting a stakes’ win with her adds enormously to her broodmare value.”

By internationally acclaimed stallion Iffraaj (Zafonic), who shuttled to Haunui Farm, her dam Calveen won ten races and over half a million in stakes, and along with grand-dam Calvinia (Varick) became a very good producer.

Francee, a half-sister to winner of five races and Group Three placed Delveen (Encosta de Lago), is the sixth individual winner from Calveen, while Calvinia left nine individual winners of 39 races and over $1.5 million in stakes. 

Francee carries a cross of highly influential stallion Mr. Prospector (Raise A Native), through the sire line of Iffraaj and dam line of Calveen. 

“It was a really good win and beautiful ride,” Walker said. “It’s always exciting to train a stakes' winner for a breeder that puts so much into the game, and the Chittty family has done that for generations.

“I had a phone call from Carolyn Chitty not long after the race. She was so excited and that’s what racing is all about. The early hours we all put in each morning are made a lot more worthwhile when we get results like this for such good people.

“So, it was very satisfying win, and the Middle Barn, where she is stabled at Matamata, had her in great order. 

"It’s a valuable win for her breeding future and she will no doubt make into a fine broodmare, adding to the terrific band of broodmares that Mark (Chitty) has at Haunui Farm.”

Francee was strapped by Rhiannon Smith. 

Photo credit - Kenton Wright - www.raceimages.co.nz