Francisca to continue success story

Talented filly Francisca is set to write another successful chapter in one of Queensland racing’s most successful owner-trainer stories.

Francisca, who cost $37,500, has won her past two starts at provincial tracks and gets her biggest test in Saturday’s Three-Year-Old Handicap (1350m) at Doomben.

She is trained by Steve O’Dea for Jamie Walter’s Proven Thoroughbred syndicate and the combination has been a power in Queensland racing for the past five years.

O’Dea has lost count of the winners he has had for Proven Thoroughbreds but it would be in the dozens through horses such as Sir Moments and Candika.

The past three months have been outstanding with six individual winners – Francisca, Real Sting, Thornett, Lothario, Sornja and Yes Tonight.

“Jamie and Proven have been great supporters of mine and it is good to get some nice horses for them,” O’Dea said.

The trainer has high hopes for Francisca who has shown a good turn of foot at the finish in both her wins.

“I know her wins have been in midweek company. But not many three-year-old fillies go from winning a maiden and then beating older mares in what was a good Class 2,” he said.

Both Francisca’s wins have been at 1400m but O’Dea is confident with the pace on she can come back slightly in distance to 1350m.