Race preview, Wauchope Jockey Club meet at Port Macquarie, 6 September 2021
The new riding season has commenced in fine style for Jasper Franklin with the promising young apprentice poised for further success at the Port Macquarie program on Monday.
Franklin certainly has horse riding in his blood as his father, Craig, was a prominent jockey on the north coast for many years and this has been reflected by the prowess displayed in his early riding career.
The latest journey commenced for Jasper in August when he partnered Wild Wind to victory for Donna Grisdale at Grafton before a magical day at Murwillumbah where a career best effort of four victories on the program was achieved.
This was followed up by a recent win on Sirmaze at Port last Saturday resulting in the popular young hoop being unbeaten in six mounts over this period and propelling him in the early season NSW Jockey Premiership statistics.
One of Jasper’s recent wins was aboard Courageous with the Matt Dunn trained gelding possessing an undeniable chance in the M & S Print Class 2 Handicap on the program.
The son of El Roca won with great authority at Murwillumbah a fortnight ago and the three-kilogram apprentice allowance together with the form exhibited in his two runs since resuming from a spell provides plenty of confidence for followers of Courageous.
The obvious danger centres around Innervoice with the Jenny Graham trained mare gallant in defeat when coming from the tail of the field and motoring to the post in the Camden Haven Cup won by Enamour last weekend while Uprise and Ciccina also have claims.
The recent feature should provide strong form lines as Lord Jaysea was narrowly beaten into second prize in the event and has every opportunity to return to the winner’s circle in the Wauchope RSL Club Handicap.
The Neil Godbolt trained gelding has been a model of consistency but will not have everything his own way as Miss Scalini and Tilly’s Star are set to provide the stiffest opposition in the race.
Just Ziggy has been racing well in a seven-start career and the Colt Prosser trained gelding is set to break his maiden status in the opening event while the clash between Green Protector and Bladnoch is set to provide an added highlight to racing action later in the program.
NSW Government stay at home orders continue for the state, effective 5pm 14 August 2021, so attendance at all NSW race meetings, barrier trials, trackwork and licensed premises is restricted to Essential Personnel only until further notice.
Owners, members, and the general public are not permitted to attend NSW race meetings, barrier trials, trackwork and licensed premises until further notice.
All staff and essential personnel are required to always wear the prescribed face masks while on the premises and social distancing rules will be strictly enforced with everyone urged to continue safe hand washing practices and general responsible conduct.
If you live or have visited a designated lock down area or have cold or flu like symptoms, such as a cough, fever, sore throat, shortness of breath or runny nose, even if these are mild, you will be restricted from entering the track, and you should get tested for COVID-19 as soon as possible.
Wauchope RSL Club have been great sponsors of the Wauchope Jockey Club over many years and have been allotted naming rights to the Benchmark 66 Handicap with other races supported by Craig Chapman Building, M & S Print, Inland 4WD and Tractors, H.L.W projects, Hastings Co-Op, and Port City Glass.
The prospect of fine weather conditions is set to ensure the best possible surface will be presented for the race meeting with officials anticipating a good rating track in the days leading up to the meeting.
Punters will be able to follow all the action of the local card together with full coverage of supporting programs from around Australia through the screens of Sky Racing with comprehensive wagering facilities available.
Racing continues at Port with Cup Prelude Day for Sunday 26 September as the club builds up to their premier carnival of racing on Friday 8 October featuring the $200,000 Port Macquarie Cup and the $80,000 Birdon Group Sprint.
Selections
Race 1 – 1.10pm CRAIG CHAPMAN BUILDING MAIDEN HCP (1200 M)
3 Just Ziggy, 1 Wiki, 4 Initiation
Race 2 – 1.50pm M & S PRINT CLASS 2 HCP (1200 M)
2 Courageous, 7 Innervoice, Uprise
Race 3 – 2.25pm INLAND 4WD & TRACTORS MAIDEN PLATE (1500 M)
4 Hemsworth, 8 Decadent Tale, 2 Coolmeans
Race 4 – 3,05pm WAUCHOPE RSL CLUB BENCHMARK 66 HCP (1500 M)
2 Lord Jaysea, 3 Miss Scalini, 4 Tilly’s Star
Race 5 – 3.40pm H.L.W PROJECTS CLASS 1 HCP (1500 M)
1 Green Protector, 4 Bladnoch, 9 Avashin
Race 6 – 4.15pm HASTINGS CO-OP BENCHMARK 58 HCP (1000 M)
2 Jazzles, 4 Zapluck, 10 Manly Hanover
Race 7 – 4.55pm PORT CITY GLASS CLASS 1 HCP (1000 M)
5 Orphan Ash, 2 Oblivion, 4 Admiral Ash
