Australia: Apprentice Franklin back on Macchina Volante for Lismore Cup

The Australian gelding Macchina Volante is toward the top of apprentice jockey Jasper Franklin’s list of favorite mounts.

Franklin won his debut back in May at the age of 18 and has progressed as a jockey quickly in recent months. Twice, Franklin has had three-win days – at Murwillumbah on Aug. 20 and Lismore on Sept. 9.

Franklin rode Macchina Volante to a win in a handicap at 1 5/16 miles at Lismore that day and is back aboard the 5-year-old gelding in Thursday’s Lismore Cup at the same distance at Lismore Racecourse.

Macchina Volante, trained by Stewart Campbell, was assigned top weight of 134.4 pounds, but Franklin’s apprentice claim reduces the weight to 127.8.

Franklin, the son of recently retired jockey Craig Franklin, rode Macchina Volante for the first time at Lismore. Franklin had Macchina Volante close to the pace throughout and won by about a neck over Nemingah, who is part of the field of 12 in the Lismore Cup.

:: Get free past performances, analysis, and picks for Australian racing

Lismore has an eight-race program that begins at 10:50 p.m. Eastern, or 7:50 p.m. Pacific, on Wednesday. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

As of Tuesday, Macchina Volante was the 3-1 second choice behind 6-5 Honorable Spirit in early betting.

Honorable Spirit, the mount of apprentice jockey Yvette Lewis, has won three of his last four starts since early August in handicaps ranging in distance from 1 1/8 miles to 1 1/4 miles. Honorable Spirit is quick enough to lead, but equally as effective from a stalking position.

Even with Lewis’ apprentice claim, Honorable Spirit will carry joint top weight of 130 pounds along with Pleased, an 8-year-old gelding who will be a longshot. Lewis rides Honorable Spirit for the first time in the Lismore Cup.

Nemingah ran well enough last time to play a factor in this field.

The 5-year-old gelding Riot Act will play an important role as a potential pacesetter, who could give Honorable Spirit fits if a duel develops. Riot Act won consecutive starts in handicaps at 1 1/8 miles against lower-class fields at Gold Coast in August, but was fourth by less than a half-length in a handicap against a tougher group at Gold Coast on Sept. 11.