Few pacers in recent years have been as consistent as Eden Franco and ace trainer-reinsman Colin Brown has high hopes that the six-year-old mare will make amends for the only real blemish in her wonderful career by winning the $50,000 Cowden The Insurance Brokers Norms Daughter Classic at Gloucester Park on Friday night.
That blot on her record came 12 months ago when Eden Franco finished 11th behind Ameretto in the Norms Daughter Classic when she was restrained to last from out wide at barrier eight, raced at the rear and was badly checked about 270m from home when finishing strongly.
Her other 18 starts in Western Australia have produced 11 wins, five seconds, one third and one fourth. Her fourth placing was when she led from the No. 1 barrier and was badly disadvantaged when her deafeners failed to release before she finished close up behind Ideal Alice in the Mares Classic last December.
Unraced as a two-year-old, Eden Franco had 11 starts as a three and four-year-old in New Zealand for one win, four seconds and two thirds.
Eden Franco will start from the No. 4 barrier on Friday night and Brown is sure to make a bold bid for the early lead before dictating terms in front, her favourite position.
Eden Franco has had three starts in her current campaign for a decisive all-the-way first-up victory over Mitch Maguire, followed by unlucky seconds to Overboard Again and Maczaffair. She began from barrier nine and raced three wide early and then in the breeze when beaten a half-length by the pacemaker Overboard Again on October 26.
Two weeks later, Eden Franco started from barrier five, raced wide early and then in the breeze before taking the lead 430m from home and being beaten by almost a length by Maczaffair, who finished resolutely from fifth at the bell.
Maczaffair, trained by Mike Reed, looms large as the most serious threat to Eden Franco. The New Zealand-bred five-year-old boasts a splendid record of 19 wins, nine seconds and two thirds from 45 starts.
She will start from the inside of the back line and reinsman Mark Reed gives her an excellent winning chance. “She came from a fair way back to win at her latest start and if the pace is on this week, she will be finishing strongly.”
Reed is hoping to go one better than he did in 2014 when he drove Libertybelle Midfrew into second place behind Sensational Gabby in the Norms Daughter Classic.
Sensational Gabby was driven by Chris Lewis, who has been engaged by Bindoon trainer Bernie James to drive the consistent Parisian Partygirl from the favourable No. 2 barrier. Parisian Partygirl, who has been placed at six of her past seven starts. Her regular reinsman Aiden de Campo has opted to drive Mary Catherine, a smart mare who is prepared by his father Andrew.
Mary Catherine will be having her first start for just over five months and Aiden de Campo said that her recent work had been pleasing, but she faced a tough task from out wide at barrier seven.
Chris Voak, who has won the Norms Daughter Classic with Leda McNally in 2013 and Frith in 2015, will be in the sulky behind the Annie Belton-trained Gotta Go Gabbana, whose prospects slumped after drawing the outside barrier (No. 9).
“It’s certainly not an ideal barrier, but I reckon the placings behind Eden Franco are up for grabs,” he said. “Gotta Go Gabbana is a mare who goes better on the pace and is capable of being placed.”
Boyanup trainer-reinsman Justin Prentice, who drove Major Reality to an all-the-way win over stablemate The Parade in the 2016 Norms Daughter Classic, will handle Pick My Pocket from barrier five. Pick My Pocket notched her eighth win from 23 starts when she worked hard in the breeze and beat Gunna Get Lucky and Parisian Partygirl last Friday week.
