ALBURY trainer John Scott has been forced to spell his boom pacer Franco Noriega after the gelding suffered a tendon injury in a freak accident during trackwork.
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Franco Noriega was accidentally kicked by a stablemate when the horse he was jogging with at the Albury Showgrounds was spooked by the flapping noise of a tarpaulin.
While the tendon injury is at the minor end of the scale, Scott said he would take an ultra-cautious approach and spell Franco Noriega for six months to make a full recovery.
“It’s disappointing but that’s racing,” Scott said.
“He will be out for six months but it is the safe thing to do.”
Connections of Franco Noriega have been inundated with offers for the four-year-old gelding who has created a huge impression since arriving in Australia from New Zealand in February.
Franco Noriega has had two Australian starts at Bendigo and Albury and has smashed the track record on both occasions.
“The horse is a freak,” Scott said.
“He is easily the best horse I have ever sat behind in my life.”
The lightly raced gelding has had 13 career starts for four wins and five minor placings for $21,000 in prizemoney.
