Racing: Pacer for cup trial after failure at Ashburton

By MICHAEL GUERIN

Franco Heir's New Zealand Cup prospects hinge on his performance in the cup trial next Wednesday.

The heavily backed pacer was an expensive failure at Ashburton on Monday, finishing tailed off in an intermediate grade race after being second on the home turn.

Trainer Barry Purdon was stunned by the defeat because Franco Heir had finished second to stablemate Holmes D G at his previous start.

But blood tests taken from the gelding indicate he may have had a slight lung infection during Monday's race.

"It doesn't look like it was too serious but at that level you can't afford to have anything wrong with you," said Purdon.

"His performance was too bad to be true after the way he went at Alex Park the start before, so I don't think it is a fair indication of where he stands.

"He seems to be improving now and the cup trial will give us a better indication of where he stands."

Purdon admits Monday's failure was hardly inspiring from a New Zealand Cup point of view, but no trainer in New Zealand has a better record at turning horses around quickly after a defeat.

"I still think we can get him to the stage where he will be competitive in the cup.

"But this setback hasn't helped."

Franco Heir has been backed in from $30 to $14 for the cup.

Wednesday's cup trial at Addington will have increased importance, with most of our leading pacers using it instead of Monday's Kaikoura Cup as their final lead-up to the great race on November 12.

Purdon will also send Holmes D G and Pic Me Pockets to the trial, and $3 cup favourite Young Rufus is a definite starter.

* One month ago Cool Hand Luke was the New Zealand Cup favourite - yesterday he was retired.

Trainer Mark Purdon knows he could have tried to get the six-year-old back to his best next year but says he deserves better.

"After we had him scanned the vet said Luke would need a nine-month spell and then we could try him again," said Purdon.

"But he has been down that road before and I don't want to keep bringing him back up only to see him suffer another injury.

"He will head up to [co-owners] Rod and Rhonda Croon's place where he can retire in a nice paddock."

Purdon was saddened by the breakdown of Cool Hand Luke this week for the horse as much as for the owners.

"He is a lovely horse and it is a shame to see him go.

"But if it had to happen I wish it had been a month later.

"He had the ability to win the cup and I wish he had got the chance to prove it."

Purdon shared the ownership of Cool Hand Luke with the Croons, Tim Vince and John Seaton, for whom the gelding won 13 of his 24 starts for $184,750 in stakes.

Had his legs held together for another six months that amount could have been $500,000 higher.