By MICHAEL GUERIN
The dream run of New Zealand's hottest 3-year-old pacing export has come to an end.
Sires' Stakes Final winner Franco Heir will miss next month's Victoria Derby after developing swelling in his legs.
The lanky gelding has looked a superstar in the making, winning four of his six starts. His performance on track and his obvious talent, led to his being purchased for around $250,000 by a Melbourne owner after just two starts.
He repaid some of that record purchase price by beating New Zealand's best 3-year-olds in the $150,000 Sires' Stakes Final at Addington in November.
Franco Heir then came north and finished second in the Great Northern Derby in his last start for John Hay before joining the Victorian stable of Jayne Davies.
But he did not travel all that well from New Zealand and the swelling in his legs has forced him to miss 10 days of vital lead-up work for the Derby, ending his chances of contesting the classic, for which he was the long-term favourite.
His withdrawal follows an even worse Australian welcome for another high- priced New Zealand 3-year-old purchase, Hero, who also is now trained by Davies.
Last season's second-best pacing juvenile went amiss soon after his arrival in Australia two weeks ago.
As a result he is likely to be away from the track for the rest of the season.
The loss of the two, further throws open the $A100,000 Victoria Derby.
The Derby had already been hit by the loss of New Zealand top guns Young Rufus and City Rogue.
Both are having short breaks before being set for the New Zealand Derby and possibly, later, the Australian classics.
New Zealand will have three representatives in the Derby series, the heating starting on February 10 for the February 17 final.
Matai Mackenzie will head the Kiwi assault, with a large contingent of the enormous ATC Trot 2000 syndicate which owns him expected to make the trip to Moonee Valley.
Sales Series Pace and Waikato Guineas winner Perfect Seelster is also headed across the Tasman specifically for the race, along with his stablemate in the Mark Purdon barn, Rare Gem.
New Zealanders have made their mark in the Victoria Derby and provided the winners in the past four years.
In 1997 Lavros Star won the event, followed by Holmes D G the next year, Courage Under Fire in 1999 and Stars And Stripes last year.
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