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.

From NEIL FRANKLYN in Auckland

BLOOD DIAMOND
5g : O Duffy : Hawera
12 starts : 3 wins : 2 places
Win distance range : 2000m - 2100m
Track conditions won on : Fast/Good : Slow
This bloke isn't from a well known stable but he's certainly a very useful middle-distance type who'll begin to apply his trade among the hack ranks in the near future. The son of Diamond Express kicked off his current preparation in less than inspiring form but improved to narrowly defeat an R70 line-up on November 18. But it was his most recent effort that attracted my immediate attention when he defeated similar class rivals on Manawatu Cup day in mid-December.

From NEIL FRANKLYN in Auckland

SOPHIA BABE
3f : A Scott : Matamata
6 starts : 2 wins : 2 places
Win distance range : 1600m - 2100m
Track conditions won on : Fast/Good
This filly displays class and will be a major threat in upcoming 3YO staying events. The daughter of Iglesia cleared maidens on her home surface back on the penultimate day of October. She then travelled north to Ellerslie to contest a listed 3YO event on December 13. Travelling beautifully beyond midfield, she was eased round the field from the 800m. She loomed up wide on the home and put in a fine sprint to grab the lead only to duck and dive in the final stages with the race in safe keeping. However, she still managed to hold the lead and win narrowly but well.

From NEIL FRANKLYN in Auckland

TOPARIO
3f : R Patterson : New Plymouth
8 starts : 2 wins : 2 places
Win distance range : 1400m - 1600m
Track conditions won on : Dead : Heavy
This filly is developing in to a handy sprinter/miler. The daughter of Captain Rio cleared maidens fresh-up at Hawera on October 10 and followed up with a battling sixth place. She then travelled to Awapuni where she grabbed third prize in an R70 affair before undergoing a 26-day break. That did her the world of good as next up she easily accounted for a bunch of fellow 3YOs at Trentham in early December.

From NEIL FRANKLYN

CHARLOTTE RUSSE
4m : D Sellwood : Cambridge
9 starts : 1 win : 1 place
Win distance range : 1600m
Track conditions won on : Fast/Good
I predict this mare will turn into a nice miler and possibly up to a middle-distance during her current campaign. The daughter of Red Ransom ran fourth fresh-up at Te Rapa on November 7 and then headed to Ellerslie three weeks later. There she contested an R70 event where she ran into traffic problems prior to finishing in fourth spot almost six lengths behind the winner. Those two efforts were over 1400m and she'll only get better when stepped up to 1600m which should occur very soon.

From NEIL FRANKLYN

MY KRAKAJAK
4g : N Pye : Waiuku
4 starts : 2 wins : 1 place
Win distance range : 1150m - 1400m
Track conditions won on : Fast/Good
Beach-trained gelding who's looked all class in his two starts this campaign. The son of Storm Creek experienced two preparatory runs as a 3-year-old prior to being put aside for a long spell. He resumed at Paeroa on November 4 where he completely demolished a maiden line-up by eight lengths. That doesn't happen often and he was sent out a warm favourite to chalk up a brace of victories at Pukekohe just over two weeks later. And he did the business; easily winning the R70 event with regular pilot Leith Innes in the saddle.

From NEIL FRANKLYN

PRINCE OF WALES
3c : M & P Moroney : Matamata
5 starts : 3 wins : 2 places
Win distance range : 1100m - 1400m
Track conditions won on : Fast/Good : Slow
This classy entire has begun his spring/summer campaign the way he ran as a 2-year-old last season - in fine form. The son of Bachelor Duke grabbed a third prize fresh-up - a nice eye-catching effort behind One Swanstonstreet - this was the race I've previously mentioned as a good form race. And he lived up to that performance when taking care of his age-group opponents in the hands of Michael Coleman at Tauranga on Novenber 14.

From NEIL FRANKLYN

SAHARA
4m : R Frost : Otaki
12 starts : 1 win : 3 places
Win distance range : 1600m
Track conditions won on : Slow
I've followed this mare's career fairly closely and I was beginning to despair she would ever enter my punting notebook. It appeared she was just a battler and was destined to run around on rain-affected going. However, it seems she just needed more ground as her first start over a middle-distance produced a pleasing effort. The daughter of Keeper ran on late to grab second money and give eventual winner Foremost a run for his money. Stick with her over and beyond 2000m.

From NEIL FRANKLYN

DEVERRA
5m : S Lucock : Byerley
10 starts : 2 wins : 3 places
Win distance range : 1400m
Track conditions won on : Fast/Good : Dead
This mare had done little to attract my attention during the first three runs of her current preparation. Although my perception of her changed when she charged home in an R70 event at Ellerslie on Melbourne Cup day. In the hands of gun apprentice James McDonald, the daughter of Stravinsky failed to overhaul the winner by just a nose margin and had to be content with second prize. She dropped down from R80 grade having had three runs in that class. She's still at the improving stage.

From NEIL FRANKLYN

WEALTH PRINCESS
4m : B Gillovic : Te Awamutu
2 starts : 2 wins
Win distance range : 1200m
Track conditions won on : Fast/Good : Slow
This mare has been handled with kid gloves and that strategy is working well as she's now unbeaten in two raceday runs. The daughter of San Luis made her debut back on the last day of April. She went out as the public's elect and she didn't disappoint when winning by nearly two lengths in the hands of veteran hoop David Walsh. She disappeared for nearly six months and again went out favourite upon resuming. An even easier victory was accomplished by over two lengths at Te Rapa on October 26.

From NEIL FRANKLYN in Auckland

ONE SWANSTONSTREET
3f : A Scott : Matamata
5 starts : 2 wins : 1 place
Win distance range : 1200m
Track conditions won on : Dead : Slow
This filly made her debut as a late 2-year-old and only experienced the one start at that age. She secured a black type victory in early spring when successful at Wanganui versus her peers albeit by just a nose margin. The daughter of Sandtrap went a nice race for fourth in listed company at Ellerslie and then comfortably took first prize in the hands of regular pilot David Walsh at Rotorua in mid-October.

From NEIL FRANKLYN

PASSCHENDAELE
4m : J Sargent : Matamata
6 starts : 3 wins
Win distance range : 1400m - 1600m
Track conditions won on : Fast/Good : Slow
This well bred mare by Montjeu out of Classic Babe has really displayed the family ability just recently when clearing the lower grades. And there's a whole lot more to come judging by her most recent outing on her home surface at Matamata. She settled back for top rider Mark du Plessis, joined in at the 200m, and toyed with her rivals in the final stages. Her prior fresh-up run saw her successful in R70 grade. It appears she's going to handle most track types too.

From NEIL FRANKLYN

THE STING
4g : J Bridge : Hastings
6 starts : 1 win : 1 place
Win distance range : 1400m
Track conditions won on : Dead
Son of Golan who showed me absolutely nothing last season and it looked like I would refer him to the scrap heap. However, an eight-month spell appears to have worked the oracle as he's returned to racing in fine fettle. Fresh-up saw him running subsequent Hawke's Bay Guineas victor Keyora to a nose at Hastings in mid-September. He then went out next start and easily accounted for a maiden special line-up with James McDonald aboard on Kelt Capital Stakes day at Hasings on October 3.

From NEIL FRANKLYN

BACK IN BLACK
4g : J Steffert : Te Aroha
8 starts : 3 wins : 1 place
Win distance range : 1200m - 1400m
Track conditions won on : Fast/Good : Dead
Sparingly raced sprinter who looks right on target for late spring and summer racing judging by his recent exploits. The son of Storm Creek returned from an autumn/winter spell with gusto running second fresh-up at Ellerslie and beaten just a nose. His connections gave him a few weeks to get over those exertions and he turned up to contest an R80 affair at Pukekohe on September 20. And he powered home to upset punters to the tune of 25/1 odds.

From NEIL FRANKLYN

PENTIRE LAD
4g : L Latta : Awapuni
8 starts : 2 wins : 2 places
Win distance range : 1200m - 1300m
Track conditions won on : Fast/Good : Dead
Given his name, it'll be no surprise to you that this gelding's sire is the wonderful Pentire. And judging on his fresh-up effort he'll represent him with gusto during the spring and summer period. He looked a trifle weak last season but he's strengthened up considerably during his five month winter spell. His aforementioned first-up performance occurred at Awapuni on September 12. He produced a stout finish to win by a nose in the hands of experienced veteran hoop Noel Harris. And he'll go a lot further than the 1300m journey he's won over thus far.