Racing: Franco Jamar should hold all the aces

Franco Jamar, driven by Craig Thornley, made short work of the semifinal on Black Friday. Photo / Harness Racing Victoria

Craig Thornley has a less-than-parochial plan with Franco Jamar heading into his A$188,000 Breeders Crown Final tomorrow.

It involves gate speed and a cunning gamble which could take arch-rival and fellow Kiwi pacer Smiling Shard out of the race.

The Canterbury pair dominated their semifinals of the glamour 3-year-old male pacing division last Friday, winning in vastly different styles.

Franco Jamar enjoyed a perfect trail before exploding up the passing lane to win while Smiling Shard worked, sat parked and outstayed his rivals in the performance of the night.

But while there is little between them on current form, Franco Jamar and Thornley hold all the aces after drawing barrier one tomorrow, with Smiling Shard on their back.

Thornley is adamant he can hold the front early after showing great early acceleration when taking on older horses at Addington three starts ago.

Yet while he believes Franco Jamar could lead all the way, he says that won't be the plan.

"I don't see the point in trying that because Smiling Shard is almost certain to be on our back and why would I want to give him the perfect trail?" said Thornley.

"I might still be able to beat him doing that but I think I can hand up to Lanercost or Courage To Rule and he will stay in front and then beat him for speed up the passing lane.

"And that would make it very hard for Smiling Shard to beat us."

Thornley's options increased yesterday when fellow NZ pacer Courage To Rule got back into the field because of a scratching, although Lanercost still looks more likely to be the first horse challenging for the lead.

Franco Jamar has been an enormous improver in the past six months but handing up to a formidable foe like Australian Derby winner Lanercost and then having only 160m of passing lane in which to beat him would be a huge call.

But Thornley says Franco Jamar is the right horse for that job.

"He is the fastest horse I have driven," he enthuses.

"When he beat Smiling Shard at Addington two starts ago we sprinted the last 400m in 25 seconds flat and a horse shouldn't be able to do that.

"He has amazing speed in that he can go from cruising to flying in three strides so I think he can sit on Lanercost and beat him."

That makes the pair a great quinella and could land Smiling Shard in all sorts of trouble.

A winner of the juvenile division last season, Smiling Shard's strong suit is his stamina and being locked away three deep on the markers would be a disaster unless there is significant mid-race pressure.

He has, however, thrived in Australia and worked in convincing style at the Breakfast with the Stars on this track on Thursday.

Devil Dodger arrived in Australia with great form but disappointed by his own high standards when second to Franco Jamar after leading last Friday.

He is better than that and showed when second in the Harness Jewels that he will be good enough to upset tomorrow if back to his best form and the speed is frenetic.

But his wide draw doesn't help with the three other favourites drawn to be racing on the marker pegs covering less ground.

And Courage To Rule will need to improve on his disappointing semifinal run last week.

BREEDERS CROWN
* What: Australasian Breeders Crown finals day.
* When: Tomorrow, first race 2.10pm (NZ time).
* Where: Melton, Victoria.
* How much: A$1.5 million spread of nine group one races.
* Who: New Zealand has five favourites, headed by De Lovely, Miami H, Our Major Mark, Paramount Geegee and Franco Jamar.

THE KIWI CHALLENGE FOR THE CROWN
Paramount Geegee (R1, No.3): Natural two-year-old with great manners so draw perfect. Hard to see him beaten on best Kiwi form as the Aussies aren't strong.

Miami H (R2, No.8): Worst possible draw but not as bad as if this was a pacing race because the field should break open. Concerns with manners mean don't take less than $2.50.

De Lovely (R4, No.7): Female version of former stablemate Elsu. Could win the male three-year-old final but doesn't have to!

Our Major Mark (R6, No.2): Will improve on last Friday and gets the draw. Not a superstar but has been at his most potent in NZ coming from just off the pace so start not as crucial as many may think.

McAmber (R7, No.10): Late developer who is tough. Will need to be from this draw and a hot early pace would increase chances.

Franco Jamar (R8, No.1): Showed good gate speed against good horses at Addington three starts ago. That means he should lead or trail so picks himself.

Courage To Rule (R8, No5): Victoria Derby winner who disappointed last week but has snuck back into the field. Will be going forward and have a role to play but might be coming to the end of it.

Devil Dodger (R8, No.6): Better than he showed last Friday when he looked flat. Would love to follow a hot speed but draw a major worry. You would want 15-1.

Smiling Shard (R8, No.8): Might be the best horse in the race but horror draw if polemarker hands up. Can still win but massive ask.