TRALEE BROMAC SHOWS LONGEVITY

Tralee Bromac (9m Royal Mattjesty-Timpany Franco, by Falcon Seelster-Tangible Franco, by Holmes Hanover-Tango Franco), continues to be a mare of longevity on the tough Menangle circuit in New South Wales.

A fourth-line descendant of the 1979 NZ Messenger-winning mare and former NZ record-holder Tempest Tiger (1:58.5, seven wins from only 12 starts), Tralee Bromac saluted for the 17th time in 141 starts when taking out the $12,480 Lexus of MacArthur Ladyship Pace last Saturday in 1:51.9.

Driven by experienced NSW horseman Jimmy Douglass, for trainer, Ian Wilson, Tralee Bromac was given a perfect trail from the two barrier and had the last say, winning by 3.5 metres.

Tralee Bromac, who was outside her career best of 1:50.9, is closing in on $200,000 in earnings, having banked $193,600.

Her dam Timpany Franco, who was unplaced in just three starts, died in March.

Her seventh and last foal, Star Of Timpany, a filly by Sportswriter, was sold last year by Bromac Lodge.

Tralee Bromac has been Timpany Franco's only stand-out performer, leaving just one other winner, Whiskyinthejar (4m by Mach Three), a winner of one from 14 starts but in a 1:59.5 rate over 2400m at Wyndham for Ryal Bush trainer, Hamish Hunter.

The family has been firing in the last decade through the progeny of quality mare, 1998 NZ Standardbred Breeders Stakes winner, 1996 NZ Oaks winner and former NZ Aged Mare of the Year, There's A Franco (1:57.7 mile rate, 2000m, 13 wins & $217,588, now the grand-dam of 1:50.4 (fifths) Meadowlands winner, Franco Totem; and Tory Franco, a half-sister to There's A Franco.

Tory Franco is the dam of seven to race for seven winners, including Sir Artsplace (1:55.2, Aust), Luksam (1:55.3, Aust), Belletti (p3, 1:58.7, dam of La Norvic De Milo, p2, 1:58.7), Kashana (p3, 1;58.5), The Cotton Club (p3, 1:57.3, Aust) and Good As Gold (p2, 1:58.9).

She's now the grand-dam of the smart Nigel McGrath-trained mare Samskara (1:53.9, eight wins & $66,503).

Tralee Bromac's third dam Tango Franco (El Patron-Tempest Tiger), only won twice but made a big impact at stud, leaving eight individual winners, including former top filly This Time Franco (p3, 1:57.9, 10 wins, 1992 NZ 2YO Pacing Filly Of The Year).

This Time Franco became the grand-dam of the stand-out pacers, Motu Crusader (1:52.9, Aust, 27 wins & $361,343) and Motu Meteor (1:55.4, 14 wins & $252,295).

Tango Franco was a half-sister to 1993 Australasian Grand Circuit champion Franco Tiger (TT, 1:53.9, 43 wins & $991,387), along with other top winners of the era in Kinda Smooth (16 wins, 1:57.6, US), OK Tiger (1:57.8, 12 wins), Franco Take Off (1:52.2, US) and Franco Timor (1:56.8).