From NEIL FRANKLYN

DANCING JESS
4m : R & C Bothwell : Stratford
7 starts : 3 wins : 2 places
Win distance range : 1200m - 1600m
Track conditions won on : Fast-Good : Slow
I had doubts as to whether this sparingly raced sprinter/miler could adapt to winter underfoot conditions. But the daughter of Danske went part way to relieving my concerns when romping away with an R80 event last weekend. She handled the Slow conditions with aplomb and rider Lisa Allpress only had to guide her round the circuit to coax her home by 2.5 lengths. She had previously chalked up a couple of minor places in her prior four starts without startling me.

From NEIL FRANKLYN

POCKET DIARY
3c : Rogerson/Lucock/Bergerson : Tuhikaramea
14 starts : 3 wins : 2 places
Win distance range : 1200m
Track conditions won on : Dead : Slow
This young colt looked useful enough as a 2-year-old and he's now matured nicely as he approaches his fourth birthday. The Jungle Pocket sprinter had performed ordinarily in his first handful of starts this preparation. But he was always thereabouts and that's what kept him on my books. And he travelled down to New Plymouth to contest an R70 grade event and returned home with the thick end of the stake following a win by the barest of margins.

Denver looks the place to be next time

From NEIL FRANKLYN

DENVER
3g : P McKay : Matamata
5 starts : 2 wins : 1 place
Win distance range : 1200m
Track conditions won on : Fast-Good
This son of Align has looked promising enough while exiting the lower grades and it'll be interesting to see how he matches up versus the higher graded animals. He grabbed third prize on debut and not surprisngly improved enough to defeat his fellow 3Y0 maiden peers next up by two lengths at Avondale. He then put in a couple of ordinary efforts prior to enduring a short let-up. That worked the oracle as he defeated his R70 rivals by two lengths back at the scene of his maiden success in late April.

There is no New Zealand racing news for Tuesday, May 5

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Denver looks the place to be next time
Posted @ 19:56:00 EST
From NEIL FRANKLYN

DENVER
3g : P McKay : Matamata
5 starts : 2 wins : 1 place
Win distance range : 1200m
Track conditions won on : Fast-Good
This son of Align has looked promising enough while exiting the lower grades and it'll be interesting to see how he matches up versus the higher graded animals. He grabbed third prize on debut and not surprisngly improved enough to defeat his fellow 3Y0 maiden peers next up by two lengths at Avondale. He then put in a couple of ordinary efforts prior to enduring a short let-up. That worked the oracle as he defeated his R70 rivals by two lengths back at the scene of his maiden success in late April.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Saheel will bring 'em to heel
Posted @ 19:23:00 EST
From NEIL FRANKLYN

SAHEEL
4m : J Bridgman : Matamata
7 starts : 2 wins : 2 places
Win distance range : 1200m
Track conditions won on : Fast-Good
There's little doubt that given time this Zabeel mare will turn into a lovely staying type. But in the meantime she's doing just fine racing over sprint distances. She cleared maidens without setting the world on fire at Ellerslie back in mid-February. She ran third second-up but then put in what I would call average performances during her next two visits to the racetrack. However, she performed with distinction when securing an R70 event with Michael Coleman in the saddle at Hastings on April 18.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Dinka can pick up the crumbs for the Bakers
Posted @ 21:29:00 EST
From NEIL FRANKLYN

DINKA
3f : M & B Baker : Cambridge
3 starts : 2 wins : 1 place
Win distance range : 1200m - 1400m
Track conditions won on : Dead
This filly has looked all class during her short career thus far. She cleared maidens by three lengths on debut at Te Aroha in mid-February and most decent judges would've stood up and taken notice immediately. The daughter of Volksraad ran a nice second at Ellerslie on Auckland Cup day and then took a short break. She returned to the scene of her Ellerslie effort and promptly did away with her R70 opponents in easy fashion with first time rider Opie Bosson in the saddle.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

The Otto motto...Nab Nautique!
Posted @ 19:23:00 EST
From NEIL FRANKLYN

NAUTIQUE
3g : C & R Otto : Te Awamutu
6 starts : 2 wins : 1 place
Win distance range : 1400m - 1600m
Track conditions won on : Fast/Good
Exciting sprinter/miler who nevertheless has provided his connections and punters alike with heart attacks in recent times. The son of Pins ran an unremarkable tenth at Ellerslie in late January before opening his account narrowly in maiden class at Te Rapa. He struck an unsuitable Slow surface next up so his run for seventh there can be best forgotten. He bounced back with third money at Hastings and a further close win where he just held on in a Te Aroha R70 affair.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Herculean Prince has that regal touch
Posted @ 22:15:00 EST
From NEIL FRANKLYN

HERCULIAN PRINCE
3g : K McQuade : Matamata
5 starts : 3 wins : 1 place
Win distance range : 1400m - 1600m
Track conditions won on : Fast/Good
This is one smart animal. At least on top of the ground anyway. The son of Yamanin Vital kicked off his recently acquired hat-trick of wins with a two length victory at New Plymouth in mid-February. He then headed to Hawera where he demolished his peers by a ridiculous seven lengths. A visit north to Ellerslie to compete against R80 class beasts was expected to be a far tougher assignment. But horses don't know about that. He had an uncontested lead, took off a long way from home, and proceeded to give his rivals a galloping lesson.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Here's an Addition that won't arrive Late
Posted @ 22:10:00 EST
From NEIL FRANKLYN

LATE ADDITION
3g : G & M Sanders : Te Awamutu
11 starts : 3 wins : 4 places
Win distance range : 1150m - 2100m
Track conditions won on : Fast/Good : Dead : Slow
Lovely son of Traditionally who looked in fine fettle at his most recent start following a disappointing effort in the NZ Derby. He defeated his fellow age group peers rather easily at Tauranga last week and I'm certain he's going to win a race or two more before he embarks on a winter spell. He's already won over a middle distance so should develop into a nice staying type. Don't be afraid to invest on him anyway, anyhow, anywhere in the coming weeks.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Relatively speaking, let's Keepitinthefamily
Posted @ 18:53:00 EST
From NEIL FRANKLYN

KEEPITINTHEFAMILY
4g : P Harris : Rangiora
17 starts : 1 win : 8 places
Win distance range : 2000m
Track conditions won on : Fast/Good
Useful middle-distance galloper who despite having won just the one race has accumulated a number of places during his career. And if his most recent effort on a northern raid is to be taken seriously then win number two is imminent. The son of Intergaze made a valiant attempt to lead all the grab in the Trentham R80 affair and fought gamely for a close-up third after fighting back when challenged. He had previously cleared the dunce class by six lengths at Greymouth.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Cor blimey! What a Geeza for a winner
Posted @ 20:21:00 EST
From NEIL FRANKLYN in Auckland

GEEZA
3g : L Noble : Matamata
4 starts : 2 wins : 2 places
Win distance range : 1100m - 1200m
Track conditions won on : Dead
This son of Ishiguru has only endured a handful of runs but it's already looking like he'll sail through the grades with aplomb. He commenced his career with a top effort to fill the runner-up spot back in September last year. It was therefore no surprise to see him secure his initial success second-up on his home surface just over two weeks later. Following a third at Ellerslie behind the talented Vonusti, he ventured on a lengthy spell and was only sighted again just recently. And he made an immediate impact with a comfortable victory fresh-up at Ellerslie.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Sail home with Quartze Reef
Posted @ 21:01:00 EST
From NEIL FRANKLYN

QUARTZE REEF
3c : James/Mirabelli : Cambridge
6 starts : 2 wins : 1 place
Win distance range : 1200m - 1600m
Track conditions won on : Fast/Good : Dead
This sprinter/miler struggled in two 3YO black type events but appears to have found his niche away from top notch company. The son of Redoute's Choice opened his account with a maiden win on debut at Te Aroha last spring. He failed next up and experienced a let-up prior to finishing runner-up at Tauranga in early January. He then flopped in the aforementioned Group events but bounced back to justify his favourite status with victory versus R70 rivals in late February.

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Get into winning rhythm with Barclay Blues
Posted @ 19:39:00 EST
From NEIL FRANKLYN

BARCLAY BLUES
3g : S McKee : Ardmore
3 starts : 2 wins
Win distance range : 1200m
Track conditions won on : Fast/Good
Master trainer Stephen McKee keeps on churning out the good ones and this young gelding looks to be no exception. The son of Lonhro kicked off his career when running fourth at Te Aroha back on December 27 last year. Natasha Collett hopped astride him three weeks later and the combination dealt a savage blow to their maiden opponents. He then experienced a 33-day let-up prior to chalking up a brace of successes versus R70 grade rivals at Avondale.