FRANCEE

Beautifully bred Francee scored her truly deserved first stakes' victory at Trentham in May 2025 - in one of the closet finishes you will see all season.

With Brazilian jockey Bruno Queiroz in the saddle, the victory was as narrow as you would see (nose) but it was the result of a strategically intelligent ride by the recent New Zealand arrival to Kiwi riding ranks.  Combined with the guts and tenacity off this patiently handled mare.

Her first career win came in May 2023, almost exactly two years to the day of her first stakes' win.  In the hands of Michael McNab, she fought off her opposition to claim an NZB Insurance Pearl Bonus Series race for fillies and mares.  She was eligible for the bonus, having been enrolled in the innovative programme by her breeder/owners Haunui Farm. This was a sign of things to come.

That same year, at the very popular Boxing Day races, which were held at Pukekohe Park due to the renovation at Ellerslie, her light again shone.  This time with Te Akau stable rider Opie Bosson in the saddle, she rattled home to win a Rating 65 benchmark 1400m.

Roll forward to Champions' Day at Ellerslie in March 2025, the Entain/NZB Insurance pearl Series Final - where fillies and mares battled it out over 1400m for stakes of $120,000 - it was Francee who came out on top.  Such a thrill for Mark Chitty, Vice Chairman of Auckland Thoroughbred Racing, and the whole Chitty family.

Not much went Francees' way when the Listed Anzac Mile, which had been rescheduled from the abandoned Awapuni meeting, was raced at Wanganui at the end of April 2025.  However the Te Akau training team of Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, known for really planning ahead, had their eye on a stakes prize for this mare, which of course would rocket her value as a future broodmare for her owners.

Remaining in the Central Districts, Francee took her place in the $80,000 Listed James Bull Rangitikei Cup at Streatham on 17 May 2025, in the hands of Bruno Queiroz, and drew on all her own determination and heart, and her rider's skills, to prevail.

Francee was bred and is raced by Haunui Farm LP - she raced 22 times for four wins and 11 placings, earnings stakes of $215,645.