Ken Casellas | Photo: PACEPIX
Lightly-raced four-year-old Franco Sheriff has a lot to learn, according to trainer Robbie Williams after driving the gelding to a fighting win in the $21,000 Westside Auto Wholesale Financing Available Pace over 2130m at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
“He is a laid-back customer who doesn’t exert himself,” said Williams. “This was only his ninth start who has had three starts here and has a lot of learning to do. The WA up-tempo racing is quite a bit different to the Kiwi style.”
Franco Sheriff won once from six starts in New Zealand before being purchased by Williams on behalf of 19 stable clients.
“A long-time friend of mine in New Zealand recommended him, saying he was a nice well-mannered horse,” said Williams. “He wasn’t expensive, and I decided to take him and syndicate him.
“He ran a reasonable race to win at his first WA start, but at his next start he was very lackadaisical and went terrible (finishing in 11TH place at Gloucester Park).”
Franco Sheriff was a $3.90 chance from barrier four on Friday night when he raced in the breeze outside the polemarker and $2.70 favourite Ya Bettor Followme.
“I wanted to race in the breeze because I thought that being outside the leader he might switch on a bit better,” explained Williams. “I think I had to work harder than he did in the final stages.
“I flicked him up, but I wasn’t sure he would’ve got past the leader if there hadn’t been that horse (Feeling Aces) coming on the outside. That’s when he tugs the bit and takes off.”
Franco Sheriff is by Vincent and is the second foal out of Bettors Delight mare My Shieldmaiden, who raced 16 times for one win, six placings and $13,117. My
Shieldmaiden’s dam is Alta Serena, who earned $593,618 from 21 wins and 21 placings from 62 starts, including Group 1 wins at Addington in 2003 and 2005 as well as seconds in the New Zealand and Auckland Cups in 2005.