Franco Motu
CHAMPION trainer Gary Hall Sr has pinned his hopes of back-to-back $1.25 million Group 1 Nullarbor wins on emerging pacer Franco Motu.
Hall Sr, who became the first WA trainer to win the Nullarbor last year with Mister Smartee, confirmed Franco Motu would run in the slot he shares with Stephen Waters.
The lightly raced former Kiwi gelding brilliantly overcame a 40m handicap to win first-up a spell at Gloucester Park last Friday night.
He steps out again in a harder and off a 40m handicap this Friday.
“He’ll surprise a few people. I think he’ll be very competitive,” Hall Sr said.
“We looked at a lot of options, but I loved the way he won last week and he was nowhere near wound-up.
“He’s gone to another level. He’s come back really well this campaign.
“Of all the options remaining, I’m confident we’ve grabbed the best of them.”
Franco Motu won his first two starts in NZ before joining Hall Sr’s stable in the middle of last year.
The son of Always B Miki has raced 10 times in WA for six wins and a third.
He won the Group 2 4YO Classic on October 24 before a luckless ninth in the Group 1 Golden Nugget (November 7) before going out for a spell.
In other stable news, Hall Sr said his two superstars, Mister Smartee and Cyclone Jordy, had returned to training in his stable this week after injury setbacks.
“Cyclone Jordy’s injury wasn’t as serious and his scan looks terrific. He can get straight back into things,” he said.
“He should be back racing in August or September and the Golden Nugget is his first aim.
“We actually could have pushed on with his injury, but we think so much of him and the potential he has on the Grand Circuit we wanted to give him the time to fully recover.”
Cyclone Jordy, unbeaten in 10 runs for Hall Sr, hasn’t started since winning the Battle of Bunbury on September 20, last year.
Mister Smartee, who won the Nullarbor/Fremantle Cup double this time last year, has raced just 32 times for 20 wins and seven placings.
He was struck down by injury after finishing sixth in the Group 1 WA Pacing Cup on December 12, last year.
“His road back is a bit longer. He’s had time out and we’ve brought him back in for some work and then we’ll get him scanned again. If it looks good, we’ll push on, if not then we’ll turn him out for another break.”
PHOTO: Pacepix
