Arvo’s Florence Dominates The 2010 Cranbourne Cup
Arvo's Florence has had to follow in some illustrious paw prints – being a younger half-brother of champion stayer Arvo's Junior and country cups finalist Arvo's Blitz. But in claiming the Group 2 Karingal Hub TAB Cranbourne Cup (520m) on Australia Day eve, Arvo's Florence achieved what his decorated siblings couldn't six years earlier.
Littermates Arvo's Junior and Arvo's Blitz finished fourth and fifth respectively to Smack Wallop in the 2004 Cranbourne Cup.
Prepared by Terry Burns of Koo Wee Rup, Arvo's Florence descends from a pre-potent pedigree that harks back to immortal producer Wee Sal.
And he is displaying all of the genetic traits – particularly since finishing fourth, at only his eighth start, in the Group 2 Great Chase in late November last year.
Arvo's Florence, who notched his sixth win (with five seconds and two thirds) from 18 starts in the $30,000-to-the-winner Cranbourne Cup, showed his 30.26sec fastest heat win was no flash in the pan.
In the final, Arvo's Florence ($9.10) defeated Ultra Rumble ($4.40) by three and three-quarter lengths, with Curwen Walker ($15.20) one and three-quarter lengths away third in 30.17sec around one and a half lengths quicker than his heat victory.
Then followed: Fedex ($3.00F), Stagger Inn ($8.60), Atomic Voodoo ($6.50), Book Of Music ($14.60) and Blitzem Bale ($9.90).
It may be a trifle premature to speculate, but Arvo's Florence has the bloodlines to make a top stayer.
His dam, Arvo's Alarm, contested six Group race distance finals including the 2003 Group 1 Australian Stayers Trophy.
But then again there is plenty of versatility in the family tree as his maternal grand-dam, Malagro Sal, is a daughter of Wee Sal, a litter sister of Cry havoc and Royal Honcho, and a younger half sister of Sobbing Sal – dam of arguably the sport's all-time greatest speedster, Brett Lee.
Arvo's Florence is raced by the Arvo's Syndicate and trained by Terry Burns of Kooweerup. He is a Blue dog whelped April 2007 by Surf Lorian from Arvo's Alarm (Barney's Alarm x Malagro). Arvo's Florence has won six of his 18 starts and has been placed on seven occasions, with the $30,000 first prize for the Cranbourne Cup it took his current stake earnings to $49,075.
Listed below is the Cranbourne Cup honour roll it contains the names of many champions of the track and many dogs that won a number of other higher ranked group races during their careers.
Cranbourne Cup Honour Roll
- 1975 Great Power
- 1976 Ragmaker
- 1977 Granulator
- 1978 Elsie Belinda
- 1979 Panther Bay
- 1980 Brindle Pixie
- 1981 Bianca Lee
- 1982 Golden Impulse
- 1983 Prince Of Eaton
- 1984 National Star
- 1985 National Star
- 1986 Lightning Boy
- 1987 Shining Chariot
- 1988 Calamity Kid
- 1989 National Asset
- 1990 Spread Eagled
- 1991 Eureka Man
- 1992 China Trip
- 1993 Kelvin's Pride
- 1994 Jamb Kid
- 1995 World Champ Stan
- 1996 Wild Season
- 1997 Lansley Bale
- 1998 Fiery Sal
- 1999 Arvo's Express
- 2000 Marsha Brady
- 2001 Hail A Harley
- 2002 Isa Brown
- 2003 Waterview Star
- 2004 Smack Wallop
- 2005 Pastrana Bale
- 2006 Pororoca
- 2007 Vapour Whirl
- 2008 Sonador
- 2009 Stoner Bale
- 2010 Arvo's Florence