3 minute read
Jasper Franklin has designs on being Sydney’s champion apprentice but he’s in no hurry - it’s a goal he’d like to be chasing not next season but the season after.
He's following the Mark Newnham blueprint of outriding his country claim before progressing to the provincials and that's something he'll be concentrating on in the next 12 months – but he's jumped at some opportunities at Rosehill on Saturday.
Jasper Franklin, who is 20 on Saturday week, was set to follow the likes of Robbie Dolan, Tom Sherry and Tyler Schiller through the Newnham apprentice 'school' when he arrived in February.
But with the trainer headed overseas he's now based with Michael Freedman and is just grateful to have been part of the Newnham team for a month.
"Mark was good to me while I was there, he gave me my first winner when I came to Sydney, and I can't thank him enough,'' Franklin said.
"Without him I'd probably not be in Sydney. It's definitely a lot different to the bush.
"It's a lot more competitive out on the course, I've found myself having to adapt and having to ride a bit more aggressively. You can't just be sitting and waiting, you've got to be making runs happen.
"All the boys are exceptional riders, Tyler and Dylan (Gibbons) have already gone on to win Group 1s as apprentices which is an outstanding effort. It's set the bar high for me but it's a challenge."
Among Franklin's rides at Rosehill are Rediener and Al Aabir for Chris Waller and Kiss The Bride and Lady Of Luxury for Bjorn Baker plus exciting country mare Dollar Magic and Conrad, the Kim Waugh sprinter who was his first city winner.
He has 85 wins so far and took out the 2022/23 Rising Star apprentice series - next season's provincial title is next on his list before he chases a spot on the Sydney honour roll.
"I'm being a little careful with my claim at the moment, in my fourth year (2024-25) I want to try to win the apprentice title and I want to have my 3kg when that happens,'' he said.
"I'm not in any hurry. I'd like to go through the grades. I did everything I wanted to do in the country and now I've moved to the provincials.
"It wasn't the main plan to be riding in town on Saturdays at this stage but when Chris Waller and Bjorn Baker are giving you opportunities it's hard to say no.
"It was always a goal once I got to Sydney to have rides for Chris and he's given me a few nice rides since I've been down here and especially on Saturday."
Rediener, $2.90 with TAB on Thursday, caught Franklin's eye when he ran third at Gosford on The Coast meeting two weeks ago and is excited to be on board in the Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1500m).
The three-year-old carried 59kg in his closing third behind Token Capitalist in an on-pace dominated race and will drop 2.5kg.
"He ran a really nice third, he got a little bit far back at Gosford which makes it hard to run on but he really stormed home,'' he said.
"The start before at Kensington when Joao (Moreira) rode him was a nice win as well and he carried 60.5kg so I think the 3kg off his back is going to suit."
Al Aabir was a Warwick Farm winner in October but has done his racing this preparation in Brisbane and Franklin is encouraged by Waller's decision to send him back to Sydney.
The gelding, who runs in the Vale Ian Finn Handicap (2400m), was beaten in the last stride at the Sunshine Coast two weeks ago after having to make a long run under 59kg.
"He's been racing up in Queensland and really been dominating and I'm hoping he can bring that form down here,'' he said.
"He's proven over the distance and he only gets in with 57.5kg so I think he is a good chance on the day. He's a horse in form."
Conrad attempts back-to-back wins in the TAB Handicap (1200m) and Franklin said while he's a horse with his quirks he could be nothing but rapt in the gelding's Canterbury win.
"I think his performance was outstanding, he'd had six weeks off and no trials and he got trapped three wide for half the event,'' he said.
"We rolled along at a nice clip and he was strong enough to find a kick at the end. He's going to strip fitter for the run."
