Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Seven-year-old Franco Ecuador has been plagued by bad luck, and his owner Rob Watson and trainer Kim Prentice are hopeful that he will remain sound and win many more races.
The New Zealand-bred gelding is on the comeback trail and made his fourth appearance in his current campaign when he showed his considerable class with a superb victory in the 1730m Mister Smartee Pace at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
He was a $15.10 chance from the No. 2 barrier on the back line and raced at the rear while the $1.20 favourite Skylord was flying along in the lead.
Skylord looked a certain winner when he led clearly in the back straight in the final circuit, with Franco Ecuador well back in eighth position with 550m to travel.
Mitch Miller then urged Franco Ecuador forward and the gelding sprinted powerfully to charge to the front on the home turn and race away to win by four and a half lengths from the wilting Skylord, rating a smart 1.54.6.
“This was probably the first time that he had been sat up in a race,” said Prentice. “When he drew the back line, we thought it was a good thing, and we hoped that they would run along, and when he pulled out, he sprinted very quickly.”
Watson purchased Franco Ecuador in March 2018, and the pacer arrived in WA 12 months later, and he made a successful debut when Prentice drove him to a ten and a half-length victory over Siringo at Pinjarra on December 9, 2019. He won again at Pinjarra a week later, and at his sixth start in a race he finished a close third behind Patronus Star and Major Martini in the WA Derby.
But soon after the Derby Franco Ecuador fractured his off-side hind pastern when jogging. Screws were inserted in the pastern, and after a 21-month absence he resumed racing with a first-up second to Ima Fivestar General followed by two wins in February 2022.
Franco Ecuador then damaged his off fore suspensory ligament which kept him out of action for two years. He reappeared with an effortless win at Bunbury in February this year, and he now boasts a record of 22 starts for nine wins and five placings for earnings of $100,094.
The sky appears the limit for Franco Ecuador, providing he remains injury free.
Franco Ecuador is by American sire A Rocknroll Dance and is the second foal out of the unraced Changeover mare Edinburgh Franco. His half-brother Franco Edward also was a brilliant pacer before his career was cut short by injury.
Franco Edward, trained and driven by Kyle Harper, earned $221,468 from eleven wins and five placings from 18 starts before tendon damaged forced his retirement. His wins included the Group 1 features the Pearl Classic and Golden Slipper in the winter of 2018.