Hoping to maintain perfect record

CONNECTIONS of promising youngster Im Frankee hope she can maintain her perfect Club Menangle record when she returns to the venue tonight.

Although based in Queensland, Im Frankee made her debut at Club Menangle on April 14, where she captured a heat of the New South Wales Trotters’ Foundation series.

Returned to trainer Graham Dwyer’s stable in the Sunshine State for a freshen-up, the daughter of Southwind Frank was taken back over the border for a Wagga-based Sales series, where she was runner-up in a heat and the Final last month.

Im Frankee then contested another Foundation heat at Club Menangle on May 9, where she completed a soft seven-and-a-half metre victory.

Working to the lead from barrier seven, Im Frankee stopped the clock in 1:57.9 for the mile, with her time the quickest of the heat winners.

“It’s interesting as I never planned to have all her early starts in New South Wales, but they didn’t run any races for two-year-old trotters here in Queensland until a couple of weeks ago, so it’s just the way things worked out,” Dwyer said. “That said, it has worked out quite well.

“From a very early stage she showed a lot of promise, but I couldn’t be happier with her progress since she started racing.

“She has improved that little but after every run and certainly has a lot of potential.”

As for her pending assignment, Im Frankee is engaged in the Foundation Final over the 1609-metre trip.

To be driven by Cameron Hart, the two-year-old is the widest drawn in the field of 10.

Despite her tough starting position, Im Frankee is a $2.10 TAB Fixed Odds favourite.

“She has stayed in New South Wales with Jarrod Alchin for the past few weeks while I returned home to Queensland and Jarrod is very happy with her,” Dwyer said. “She is in perfect shape for the Final, but she will need to be.

“The draw isn’t so perfect, but it is what it is.

“She does have high gate speed, but that’s up to Cam whether he uses it as she is also great with a sit as well, so the options are there.”

Citing Hilldale Hilton as the one to beat, Dwyer stated Majaro Girl and Chief Kenny have to be respected.

The only other duel heat winner, Hilldale Hilton is the $2.90 second elect from barrier nine.

Successful in the third heat, while finishing third in three others, Majaro Girl represents good value at $10 from gate eight.

Desperate to register his maiden success, Chief Kenny has been runner-up in four heats, while finishing fourth in another.

The son of On A Streak is considered a $7.50 shot to finally break his bridesmaid status.

“As we’ve seen in the heats, they are a pretty even bunch of nice young trotters,” Dwyer said. “None of them can be taken lightly.

“It’s a racing cliché, but you can truly say which ever gets the better run, or most luck, on the night will come out on top.

“Hopefully that turns out to be Frankee…now we’ll just have to wait and see.”