CHRISTCHURCH - Franco Heir, who won a Sires' Stakes heat in track record time at Forbury Park last Friday night, has been sold, subject to the arrival of funds from Australia.
But the deal has come as a major shock to trainer John Hay after he took the 3-year-old off the market recently.
However, business was done after the three directors of the estate of Wayne Francis were approached with an offer of around $250,000.
"If we had known the directors wanted him to be sold, then we could have syndicated him and kept him in New Zealand," Hay said.
"I gave Wayne Francis [the late owner of Spreydon Lodge] my word that I would stay on for another two years and I will honour that but when this sort of thing happens, you wonder what is the point.
"Wayne always liked to keep some of the good ones, and that was how the operation worked. He wanted me to make the decision whether we kept or sold them.
"We sell most of them, which you have to, but we will be waiting a long time to get another one like him."
Chris Alford flew to Christchurch and trialed Franco Heir for Victorian trainer Noel Alexander last week. Franco Heir ran his final quarter in a brilliant 26 seconds to clinch the deal.
"I told Wayne that I couldn't say whether it was wise to hold on to Franco Hat Trick when he was offered $100,000 for him. But we turned down $300,000 for Franco Enforce and $175,000 for There's A Franco without upsetting the operation," Hay said.
All three went on to be major classic winners, with the latter two finishing third and fourth, respectively, in the 1998 New Zealand Cup.
The only runner Hay has set for the Sires' Stakes during his time at Spreydon Lodge is Franco Enforce, who won in 1996.
"Winning the Sires' Stakes was special to Wayne, and this horse is good enough for it," Hay said.
A spokesman for the trustees of the Francis estate, Graeme Davey, said the estate directors did not wish to make any public comment on the sale of Franco Heir.
Franco Heir is likely to return to New Zealand for the Sires Stakes Final on November 14.
- NZPA
Racing: Trainer in shock after deal done
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