Racing: Pembrook Benny well placed

Pembrook Benny is perfectly placed to win tonight's $70,000 Pak'N Save Franklin Cup.

He was a last-start fourth in the New Zealand Cup and is far better placed in the handicaps tonight.

The group two races contains great depth though, with strong South Island representation. If Pembrook Benny wins tonight's $70,000 Franklin Cup trainer-driver Barry Purdon could be excused for looking for his brother Mark soon after the field passes the winning post.

Because Barry owes him a thank you for helping find his latest open-class star.

Mark, who drives Sleepy Tripp in tonight's Alexandra Park feature, was asked by Barry to trial Pembrook Benny when he was trained by Nigel McGrath as a juvenile.

Mark was so impressed he told Barry if he didn't buy the youngster, Mark would.

That was recommendation enough for Barry and his owners who while they paid good money for Pembrook Benny have already won that back, with the 5-year-old set to be a major open-class player for the next two seasons.

Taking a line through his last-start fourth in the New Zealand Cup, when he met rivals like Changeover 30m worse off than he does tonight, he has to be the one to beat tonight.

He has now broken the important 4:00 mark twice for 3200m and that, coupled with his standing start manners, make him impossible to go past.

"Addington is faster than Alexandra Park but I would say he could go 4:0 or 4:1 here on Friday," said Barry.

"Usually he is a very good beginner and in a field this even that could be the difference.

"It is a great field so getting to the markers and being handy will be crucial. I think he can do that."

Purdon is thrilled with how Pembrook Benny has come through the New Zealand Cup, with the gelding's workout on Wednesday morning confirming the boss pulled the right rein in dodging the New Zealand Free-For-All two weeks ago.

"I think in the days when they used to go 4:04 in the Cup you could back up in the free-for-all but now they go 3:57 it is a bit harder.

"He is spot on for this week."

Pembrook Benny is the most proven open-class horse off the front line so will start favourite but there is plenty of depth behind him.

Sleepy Tripp may only be dipping his hoof in the big time but is an open-class star in the making so should handle the transition, while Rider On The Storm was second in the Kaikoura Cup two starts ago and also comes in well off the front line.

Georgetown returns to Alexandra Park where he has raced so well and was solid in the NZ Cup, while the enigma of the race is Changeover.

He has been good without being great this season and lost in the controversy of the New Zealand Free-For-All was the fact the he performed only moderately for one of his class.

As a 6-year-old stallion maybe his absolute best form is behind him and if that is so tonight's 30m handicap is going to take an enormous amount of overcoming.

While Purdon is keen on Pembrook Benny tonight he doesn't totally dismiss stablemate Power Of Tara either, even though he faces a 20m handicap.

"He was all right in the New Zealand Cup after doing some work and while you wouldn't think he could give Benny a 20m start he is a very good stayer."

Meanwhile, Purdon rates Amboseli (race five) as the stable's best winning hope tonight. "She is a nice mare in that grade."