From NEIL FRANKLYN

POLLY PETITE
4m : B Revell : New Plymouth
15 starts : 3 wins : 3 places
Win distance range : 2000m - 2200m
Track conditions won on : Slow
Useful middle-distance performer who's really hit her straps in recent times. The daughter of Monolith grabbed the major prize in a low class highweight affair at Hawera in early July. As a result I didn't take a second glance at her due to the weak field. And that remained the case even when she took home third prize in a stronger R70 line-up next start. However, leading hoop Opie Bosson hopped aboard her a fortnight later and the pair pulled off an easy win on Polly's home surface.

From NEIL FRANKLYN

STRANGER DANGER
3g : Logans/Gibbs : Ruakaka
5 starts : 1 win : 1 place
Win distance range : 1600m
Track conditions won on : Dead
This son of Volksraad is developing nicely and will provide a threat where ever he lines up so long as the tracks aren't too deep. He's trained on sand-based surfaces at the beach settlement of Ruakaka and his last three starts have been restricted to his home track. He ran fourth there toward the end of May and then destroyed his maiden opponenets with an emphatic victory four weeks later in the hands of Leith Innes. He followed up with a niced run for second in far stronger R80 company.

From NEIL FRANKLYN

CASH KINGDOM
5g : C Ritchie : Pukekohe
15 starts : 2 wins : 1 place
Win distance range : 1600m
Track conditions won on : Slow : Heavy
This bloke required 14 starts to clear maidens but now he's on a short winning streak and should prove hard to hold out in future hack grade races. The son of D'Cash ran 11th first up on his home track back in mid-May. He then destroyed a weak bunch of maiden grade highweighters by five lengths at Avondale almost one month later. And he made it a brace of victories when narrowly defeating R70 rivals; again at Avondale. The latter win was aided by the allowance allowed by apprentice rider Jenny Whiteside.

From NEIL FRANKLYN

MARGRETHE
4m : K Zimmerman : Otaki
18 starts : 2 wins : 4 places
Win distance range : 1625m - 2100m
Track conditions won on : Heavy
This middle-distance wet track performer has steadily come right this campaign and I'm looking forward to seeing her improve her record in the coming weeks. The daughter of Viking Ruler ran 9th, 6th, 5th & 2nd in her first four attempts this time up and then completed a victory in R70 grade. This occured at Otaki on June 27 and the mare appears to have found her niche which is over a middle-distance on a heavy surface. Watch out for her around the central districts circuit while the tracks are still in a dodgy state.

From NEIL FRANKLYN

MONOPOLY
3f : D Guy : Matamata
11 starts : 2 wins : 2 places
Win distance range : 1400m
Track conditions won on : Slow
Daughter of Danroad who appears to have matured sufficiently enough to warrant being included in my notebook this week. She looked a shade weak at times during her previous preparation and threatened to look the same again during two recent autumn runs. Commencing with a nice run for third at Pukekohe back in late April, she failed at her two aforementioned subsequent efforts prior to lining up versus R70 rivals at Rotorua in mid-June. And in the hands of Opie Bosson she silenced her critics with a narrow but impressive victory.

From NEIL FRANKLYN

TRADING SECRETS
3f : Y Seguin : Cambridge
10 starts : 2 wins : 5 places
Win distance range : 1600m
Track conditions won on : Dead : Heavy
This filly's brace of recent successes made me stand up and take notice in a big way. The daughter of Quorum completed her maiden experience versus her 3-year-old peers at Hawera on May 23. She thenappeared at Te Rapa where she she destroyed an R70 line-up by 4.5 lengths - aided by the weight relief offered by inform apprentice Alvin Ng. She handles various track conditions with aplomb, so should continue to shine over the next few weeks.

From NEIL FRANKLYN

PENNON
3c : K Myers : Wanganui
4 starts : 2 wins : 1 place
Win distance range : 1600m - 1950m
Track conditions won on : Dead
This chap has been lightly raced thus far and looks the goods each time he steps onto the racetrack. The son of Pentire made his debut back in February where he ran an ordinary tenth place on his home track. He quickly improved to grab third money second-up on a South Island sojourn and then cleared maidens at Blenheim on the way home. Opie Bosson hopped aboard when he lined up versus R70 grade rivals at Hawera on May 23 and they dealt to their rivals with relative ease.

From NEIL FRANKLYN

PULSATION
3g : J Wheeler : New Plymouth
16 starts : 2 wins : 3 places
Win distance range : 1400m
Track conditions won on : Slow : Heavy
Despite being a trifle inconsistent this sprinter is capable of clearing the hack grades this winter. The son of Show A Heart put in a good effort to grab second prize in an R70 affair at Woodville in late April. He then turned in a disappointing run when finishing ninth next up. Nevertheless, he relished the rain-sodden New Plymouth surface when easily accounting for R70 opponents on 15 May. Top hoop Hayden Tinsley rode him a treat and the gelding responded to his urgings with gusto.

FromNEIL FRANKLYN

FIRST DATE
3f : L Noble : Matamata
5 starts : 2 wins
Win distance range : 1400m
Track conditions won on : Dead
Aptly named filly by No Excuse Needed out of Stars In Her Eyes. She commenced her current preparation with a nice improver's run for fourth in late March. She then went on to record an impressive lower grade double on the Rotorua track. The first occurred in mid-April with a comfortable 1.3 length success. She then repeated that winning margin with an easy win on May 8. She cruised along in a handy position and when apprentice Alvin Ng pressed the button she galloped clear in good fashion.

From NEIL FRANKLYN

LAME EXCUSE
4g : D Green : Waterlea
5 starts : 2 wins
Win distance range : 1000m
Track conditions won on : Dead
This bloke didn't show much during his first three starts but made up for it on his home surface at the recently concluded two-day Blenheim carnival. The sprinting son of No Excuse Needed tackled maiden company on the first day and promptly destroyed his maiden rivals by five lengths. He then made a large jump in class when lining up versus R80 grade rivals on the second day. But it made little difference as he repeated his first day heroics in fine style.

From NEIL FRANKLYN in Auckland

ISSUES
3g : M & T Stokes : Waikuku
6 starts : 2 wins : 2 places
Win distance range : 1000m - 1150m
Track conditions won on : Fast/Good : Slow
South Island-based sprinter who produced a grand, final late sprint to capture an R70 event in his first North Island start at Trentham in mid-April. Experienced hoop Chris Johnson had the son of Ishiguru travelling sweetly in the rear group. And when he asked him for an effort he shot up the inside in rapid fashion to secure the major prize right near the line. He was in a freshened state having run seventh in the Dunedin Guineas, 70 days prior and should improve rapidly with that run under his belt.

From NEIL FRANKLYN

BARTOTE
4g : McRae/Newham : Pukekohe
9 starts : 2 wins : 1 place
Win distance range : 1300m - 1600m
Track conditions won on : Fast/Good : Dead
This customer has proven most consistent this preparation and I fully expect him to maintain his good form in the coming weeks. The son of Faltaat returned to the racetrack in February following a long spell. And he hurt his maiden rivals when succeeding on his home surface in a fresh state. He ran third at Ellerslie over the cup carnival versus a decent line-up, but could manage just fourth next up. However, he was soon back in business when producing a solid victory in R70 grade at Te Aroha on April 10.

From NEIL FRANKLYN

CAT WOMAN
3f : J Sargent : Matamata
14 starts : 3 wins : 2 places
Win distance range : 1200m - 1600m
Track conditions won on : Fast/Good : Dead
This sprinter/miler is on a decent run of form and there's no reason to suggest she can't continue to impress during the mid-autumn period. The daughter of Scaredee Cat travelled across to Wairoa on the east coast of the North Island and returned home with the thick end of an R70 stake. She ran third across the other side of the island at Waverley and then put in a dashing display at Tauranga in 3YO company. In the hands of Mark Du Plessis, she settled at the rear and mounted an enormous run through the pack in the home straight to record a minor upset.

From NEIL FRANKLYN

TIME KEEPER
3c : Nicholson/Allbon : Te Aroha
22 starts : 2 wins : 6 places
Win distance range : 1600m - 2100m
Track conditions won on : Fast/Good
This entire doesn't possess a flash win-to-starts strike rate, but don't let that stat bother you if considering him as a punting vehicle. The son of Stravinsky ran third in the Group 2 Great Northern Guineas at Ellerslie on Boxing Day and later ran an excellent fifth in the Group 1 NZ Derby. He was expected to be tough to beat in a 1600m affair for 3YOs at Trentham on Oaks day and so it proved. He sat outside the pacemaker in transit and dashed away in the concluding stages.

From NEIL FRANKLYN

COLONEL DANSKE
5g : L Latta : Awapuni
18 starts : 4 wins : 2 places
Win distance range : 1200m - 1400m
Track conditions won on : Fast/Good
This sprinter has been plying his trade around the traps for a while, but has generally slipped under my guard until now. The son of Danske cleared the lower grades when proving successful on his home surface last Boxing Day. He raced consistently throughout his subsequent four outings without threatening to enter the winner's circle. However, he corrected that anomaly when arriving with a late burst to secure an R80 event in the country at Waverley on March 14.

From NEIL FRANKLYN

FASHION ROCKS
4m : L Noble : Matamata
11 starts : 2 wins : 5 places
Win distance range : 1400m - 1600m
Track conditions won on : Fast/Good
Useful sprinter-miler who's likely to move on and compete well in better company now that she's cleared the lower grades. The daughter of Dehere won her maiden event pre-Xmas on her home track. She finished a decent fourth next up, but blotted her copybook with a poor effort for 15th at Ellerslie on the last day of January. However, she bounced back from that setback very quickly when running second at Ellerslie and then again succeeding on her home surface on February 27.

From NEIL FRANKLYN

LEMONADE
3f : Donoghue/Pike : Cambridge
5 starts : 2 wins
Win distance range : 1200m - 1400m
Track conditions won on : Fast/Good
This filly is flying at the moment and there's no reason to suggest that more spoils won't come her way in the coming weeks. The daughter of Bertolini was experiencing her fourth raceday start when she easily accounted for maiden rivals in the hands of boom apprentice James McDonald at New Plymouth in mid-February. Buddy Lammas then hopped aboard her on the same track eight days later and the combination led all the way to demoralise their chasing rivals

From NEIL FRANKLYN

DADZADREAMER
4g : G Richardson : Matamata
15 starts : 2 wins : 5 places
Win distance range : 1600m - 2100m
Track conditions won on : Dead
This gelding has taken a while to realise his undoubted potential and it now looks like he's ready to reward his followers. The son of St Petersburg ran a pair of ordinary races prior to securing a runner-up position on his home track on December 23. You can forget his next up fifth as that occurred on an unsuitable and unseasonal heavy surface. A much better guide to his qualities arrived when he thrashed R70 grade rivals by 2.5 lengths at Pukekohe in mid-February.

From NEIL FRANKLYN

RIOMORAL
3g : K McQuade : Matamata
4 starts : 2 wins : 1 place
Win distance range : 1200m
Track conditions won on : Fast/Good : Dead
This sparingly raced individual looks highly talented and is likely to rip through the grades with ease. The son of Captain Rio debuted as a 2-year-old early last winter where he won confortably at Te Rapa. He wasn't spotted on the track again till September where he ran second fresh-up and then sixth in listed company. Another spell ensued and he looked exceptional first-up when demoralising his age group peers with Michael Coleman aboard at Te Rapa on February 6.

From NEIL FRANKLYN

REDESSI
4g : C & R Otto : Te Awamutu
6 starts : 2 wins : 1 place
Win distance range : 1200m
Track conditions won on : Fast/Good : Heavy
Redoute's Choice gelding with the ability to handle varying types of track conditions which is always an advantage for us punters. He kicked off his current prepartion with a brace of efforts on Central Districts racetracks. His fresh-up performance occurred at Awapuni where he finished an encouraging second. He then lined up at Stratford on the last day of 2009 and finished behind the places in fifth spot. A four-week let-up was followed by a nice win in the hands of ex-Aus hoop Gavin McKeon at Te Aroha.

From NEIL FRANKLYN

MOREPORK
3g : M Breslin : Awapuni
3 starts : 2 wins
Win distance range : 1000m - 1200m
Track conditions won on : Fast/Good : Dead
This chap is heading places fast given he recently achieved the difficult task of winning in maiden and R70 class back-to-back. The son of Thorn Park first stepped onto the racetrack at Foxton back in the first week of the current season. He ran fourth. And wasn't sighted again till reappearing at Tauherenikau in early January where he completed his dunce class experience with a 3.3-length thrashing of his rivals. Next up was the heady heights of Trentham where he impressed once again in the hands of regular pilot Kelly Myers.

From NEIL FRANKLYN

NO FEAR
3g : B J Wallace : Takanini
8 starts : 2 wins : 3 places
Win distance range : 1600m
Track conditions won on : Fast/Good
This young galloper is turning into a very nice 3-year-old and could well be a leading candidate for the NZ Derby to be run at Ellerslie in early March. The son of Johar commenced his current campaign with a hat-trick of runner-up spots in maiden company. He then went one better when clearing the dunce class at Ellerslie over the Xmas period. He lined up in decent 3YO company at the same venue in mid-January where he defeated his age group peers in easy and impressive fashion.

From NEIL FRANKLYN

SMOKIN GUN
3g : C Thornton : Cambridge
6 starts : 2 wins : 1 place
Win distance range : 1600m
Track conditions won on : Fast/Good : Dead
Promising miler who rewarded his army of supporters when successful in R70 grade at Woodville on January 9. The son of High Chaparral was starting at the country meeting following a let-up and went out as the punter's elect. This bloke cleared maidens at Pukekohe during springtime and had recently returned from a South Island sojourn without success. I expect him to go from strength-to-strength so watch out for him versus city company in the near future.

From NEIL FRANKLYN in Auckland

TIGERMAN
4g : G Searle : Awapuni
4 starts : 3 wins
Win distance range : 1200m - 1400m
Track conditions won on : Dead : Slow
Indian Danehill sprinter whose career has begun with gusto. He commenced his early run of form on debut with an easy 2.8-length beating of his maiden opponents on his home surface on the last day of October. He performed ordinarily second-up but was soon back to his winning ways at the same venue at his third raceday appearance. He then travelled down to Otaki where a rise in class to R80 grade made not a scrap of difference albeit his winning margin was just a half-head.

From NEIL FRANKLYN

TANHA STRIKE
3g : B J Wallace : Takanini
3 starts : 2 wins
Win distance range : 1400m
Track conditions won on : Fast/Good
Son of Octagonal who impressed me greatly when he completed a solid victory in R70 grade at Ellerslie on December 28. He led the field into the home straight but was soon headed and his winning chances looked forlorn. However, he fought back gamely and edged in front again to secure success by a head margin. He had earlier cleared maidens on debut at Dargaville and then ran a handy fourth at Ellerslie. This was good form for his aforementioned winning assignment.