Thirteen -year -old veteran of 290 starts Franco Huntington (Switch) has run its last race.
“I just felt that he was starting to relieve a little and I didn’t want to shame him at any time. He did it great for us and he owes us nothing,” said trainer Doug McLaid after the ninth place of Franco Huntington yesterday at Gore.
Bred by Spreydon Lodge, he started his career at Steven McRae who brought him to a number of training sessions and qualified him in Rangiora in February 2015 before he was sent to the south to be trained by Otama coach Robin Swain. He had his first twenty -three starts for Swain and won once.
He joined Mcachlan’s Myross Bush Stable in 2017 after he was bought by stable customers for just $ 2,000.00.
Mclachlan took over ownership in March 2018 and in Winton in November 2023 Franco Huntington Mclachlan gave his 200one win.
From 290 starts he won seventeen races, he was placed twenty times on the second time and three times three times, banking of $ 185,978.
“He doesn’t go into the paddock. He is nourished in boxes and hard.”
Franco Huntington won for the last time in October 2024 in Ascot Park. John Morrison rode him for nine of his victories, Shane Walkinshaw Two and Sam Ottley, Mark Hurrell, Nathan Williamson, Max Hill, Andrew Suddaby and Robin Swain each won on the gelding.
Invercargill was his favorite winning song. He won eight races there, as well as four in Wyndham and Winton, and one in Gore.
In the short term, it is expected that Franco Huntington will stay with the stable.
“That is my intention at the moment, unless I find a really good home for him. Sally McKay can take him as a clerk of the course horse.”
He said the gelding will not be friendly to stay at home when the float goes to the races.
“He will make me angry. He will probably come out for a trip. He likes to be in the neighborhood and on the races.”
Through Bruce StewartFor Harnesslink
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