Racing: Franco Jamar on track for Flying Stakes

Franco Jamar, who was scratched from his engagement at Addington on Friday night through lameness, bounced back to win a work-out in fast time the next day.

"The blacksmith pricked him when he was being shod and he was lame on Friday morning," Steve Dolan, his Loburn trainer, said.

"I treated him with antibiotics and he recovered quickly. I was thrilled with his run at the work-outs."

Franco Jamar, winner of seven of his past eight starts, won the work-out at Rangiora by five lengths in 2.28.9 for 2000m (mobile), the last 800 in 55.2.

"He will improve with the work-out as he had not raced for three weeks," Dolan said.

The Courage Under Fire colt has the Flying Stakes at Addington next Friday on his programme.

Trainer Gil Shirley bridged a 51-year gap when he won the $50,000 Invercargill Cup on his home track on Saturday with Vi Et Animo, driven by his son and right-hand man, Brent.

It was the biggest win for Gil and Brent.

Shirley (78) trained and drove Lady Nelson to win the feature race at the Invercargill Trotting Club meeting in 1959.

Vi Et Animo, a $5200 weanling purchase at a Christchurch sale in 2006, has won 12 races and $139,374 for Myross Bush owners Wayne and Alison McCulloch.

The McCullochs subsequently bought Blondie's Pocket, the dam of Vi Et Animo, with a filly at foot by Live Or Die for $4000 after she was advertised by Christchurch breeder Lynn Hodgson.

Vi Et Animo (by Pacific Rocket) was then making his mark as a 2yr-old.

The filly, Dyed Blonde, shaped well in her first work-out yesterday.

Blondie's Pocket is an unraced mare by In The Pocket.

Vi Et Animo has the $30,000 Southern Country Cups Final on his programme at Invercargill on May 1.

The Shirley stable won this race in 2006 with Chesterton. The stable also won on Saturday with Norham Fella, a half-brother to Chesterton. Trainer Tony Stratford told stewards he would make a gear change to Le Sol who raced erratically and took a wide berth when finishing second at Addington on Friday night.

Stratford said a neck band had caused pressure on the pole pricker worn by Le Sol.

Tullylish, who trotted roughly and lost contact in his race at Invercargill, cast a shoe.

Motu Star Of Pacific was found to have an elevated temperature and an indication of an infection after his unplaced run.

The hopple shorteners of Biella Star became wrapped around his fetlock in the Invercargill Cup.

Biella Star and Sleepy Tripp were held up by the tiring My Man Dan.

Ohoka Dallas swung sideways at the start and took no serious part.

Essene required stitches after he crossfired and struck a fetlock in the 2yr-old race.

Four Starzzz Flash is back in the Amberley stable of part-owner Kevin Chapman.

The 3yr-old won the Elsu Classic at Alexandra Park in December during a 3-month campaign with Barry Purdon and Scott Phelan.