Racing: Franco Endure stands out

Franco Endure's last race of the season could be his most profitable.

That is trainer-driver Brent Mangos' opinion heading into tonight's $25,000 Thames Cup at Alexandra Park.

Mangos has been thrilled with the way Franco Endure has risen from being an unknown maiden at the start of the season to look a potential open-class horse, making the tough Harness Jewels 4-year-old male pacing division along the way.

That has meant a tough season though and Mangos says tonight's 2700m standing start event will be Franco Endure's last for the season.

"He has had a great season because he has raced a lot of very smart horses along the way," said Mangos.

"Like a lot of horses he is probably coming to the end of it a bit but I think he has one more big race in him."

Mangos bases that on Franco Endure's second in a similar field when favourite last Friday.

On that occasion he led and was run down by a race rival tonight in Arma Fake.

"He wasn't too bad last week and I am sure he will be better this week," explains Mangos.

"That was his first race since the Jewels [May 30] and he needed the run. And he still came home [last 800m] in under 57 seconds.

"And Arma Fake has to give him a 10m start this week."

Franco Endure's manners should ensure he is close to the pace in a race which looks set to be dominated by those handy at the bell.

The toughest for him to beat will be the rejuvenated Big Dog, who like Franco Endure has had a fine lower grade season.

Big Dog returned from an 18-month layoff to produce some tough performances racing in the ultra-competitive class one and two races at Alexandra Park's premier meeting.

Since reverting to handicap racing he has shown good standing start manners mixed with stamina which enables him to grind out fast late sectionals in his races, leaving those back in the field struggling.

Because he has a similar racing style to Franco Endure it wouldn't surprise to see the pair giving their rivals plenty to catch over the last lap tonight.

The pair will dominate fixed odds betting on the race but some each-way punters will come for Fight Fire With Fire, who looks set to get a drop on her male counterparts from the ace draw.

Fight Fire With Fire had her chance to beat Big Dog after trailing him the last time they clashed but was outstayed, although she comes into tonight's feature 10m better off in the handicaps.

Her trainer-driver Mark Purdon will provide what many punters view as the anchor in the $100,000 Pick6, with Lifeoftheparty in race eight.

The talented 3-year-old took advantage of dropping back to grade racing, after a tough season against his own age group to thrash some solid older opponents last start and meets similar opposition tonight. If he performs up to his best this field should hold few fears for him.

He looks one of the few anchor options in the Pick6 though, with the meeting having attracted decent-sized fields considering it comes on the back of Cambridge last night.

THAMES CUP
* The listed $25,000 Thames Cup is the feature race at Alexandra Park tonight.
* Franco Endure could be hard to catch off the front line in what will be his last race of the season.
* His biggest threat will be Big Dog, who is chasing a treble of wins.
* Lifeoftheparty looks the best anchor for punters chasing tonight's $100,000 Pick6.