FORMER star Kiwi pacer Franco Nelson has recovered from a life-threatening illness and is about to launch a campaign aimed at the Melbourne Inter Dominion.
The Christian Cullen entire heads to the Menangle trials next Tuesday and is one of “at least three” horses Team Tritton is setting for the Inter Dominion.
“He may not be ready for the Victoria Cup given it’s a month away, he’s up there with My Alpha Rock and Gotta Go Ya Hu as our three main Inter Dominion hopes. We’ve nominated Real Social as well if he measures up,” Shane Tritton said.
Tritton revealed Franco Nelson fell ill with a very “intestinal bug” following his latest run when eighth in the Len Smith Mile on July 1.
“It was scary for a while. We could’ve lost him, but he’s recovered and set for the first step back with the trial on Tuesday. He seems well, but this is just a starting point,” he said.
My Alpha Rock has snatched the stable star tag with his three successive Menangle wins, including last week’s in a career-best 1min49.5sec mile.
“He’s really taken the next step. He was quite arrogant last week given the time he ran and how he did it,” Tritton said.
“But we think Gotta Go Ya Hu is right there with him. They are just different horses. Gotta Go Ya Hu needs the race to come him, while My Alpha Rock makes his own luck.
“But Gotta Go Ya Hu can do amazing things on the clock and when they go hard and he comes with one run, he can beat anything.”
Gotta Go Ya Hu returns from a freshen-up in the opening race at Menangle tomorrow (Saturday) night.
“He’s drawn wide, like the best horses always do at Menangle, and he’ll need the race run to suit, but he’s ready to win if goes his way,” Tritton said,
“I’m looking to him and My Alpha Rock as my Victoria Cup horses.”
Beyond the Grand Circuit races, Tritton believes this is the most exciting batch of horses he and wife, Lauren, have trained and recent Kiwi import Gods Spirit has further boosted enthusiam levels.
“He’s special. We’ve thought it from the first time we worked him,” he said. “He’s easily won all three runs for us and went a 1min50.9sec mile winning by seven lengths without being let go last Tuesday.
“His goal in the Chariots Of Fire. It’s all about trying to educate him as a racehorse between now and then as he’s only raced four times, including that one win he had in NZ.
“To say we’re excited about is an understatement.”
But the talents runs deeper.
“It’s an exciting time when we’ve got our three-year-olds Muscle Factory, Petes Big Jim and Platinum Revolution about to come back in,” Tritton said.
“And don’t forget Reaza Grunter. She’s had a good break and we think she can challenge the best mares this campaign as well.”
