Amaretto Franco’s end goal is here
Garrick Knight - Raceform • December 19th, 2025 3:03 PM • 4 min read
Amaretto Franco gets the best chance of her career for a rich stakes win at the inaugural Harness 5000 meeting at Ashburton on Sunday.
Earlier this week, the daughter of Terror To Love opened a prohibitive $1.50 favourite in the Listed Dairy Business Centre Mobile Pace for five-year-old and older mares.
Her trainer Steven McRae says she is carrying plenty of expectation for her connections heading into the event.
“It’s pretty much been her end goal for the last two or three months,” he told RaceForm. “She’s had those mares’ races leading up this, where she ran well, but this race was always going to be pretty much tailor-made for her on paper.”
Two starts ago, Amaretto Franco ran a brave second on Show Day behind subsequent Green Mile winner Esmeralda in the Listed Southern Mares Classic. She beat home Ruby Roe, who ran third at Group One level at Auckland last week.
Her most recent effort was a fast-finishing second behind Nothing But You from a wide draw at Addington a fortnight ago.
“It was the perfect final hitout. The leaders didn’t quite come back to us as expected, but she was doing her best work at the finish.
“I can’t fault her recent form, so I’m expecting her to run well and think she’ll be very hard to beat.”
Amaretto Franco’s form against some of the best mares in the country stands out like a beacon compared to her opponents this week, half of which are rated 42 or lower.
If there is to be a fly in the ointment, it is a northern visitor, according to McRae.
“I’ve always had respect for Joes Rock, though I’m not sure she’s quite at her very best at the moment.
“She would give us plenty to think about with her best effort, but without being disrespectful to the others in the race, I think we should probably have their measure.”
McRae is noted as a very patient trainer that doesn’t over-race his team and Amaretto Franco is another example of that, with just 24 starts to her name as she approached her six-year-old year. But it’s with good reason.
“She’s had a few niggles along the way – nothing major, but enough to keep us cautious, and she’s also not the best traveller either.
“But she’s really coming into her own now and I think next year will be her year. There are plenty of nice races for her to target and we are looking forward to giving her that chance.”
In a late twist, Joes Rock, along with stablemate Little Spike and fellow northerners Santapazienza and Stone Cold, had their flight south cancelled on Wednesday morning with connections advised there was no guarantee a replacement would be available before Sunday.
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