Spotlight On: Jasper Franklin

By Brodie Nickson

At just 20-years-of age, apprentice jockey Jasper Franklin has already experienced some of the tremendous highs and lows the racing industry has to offer.

The talented apprentice has recently found a home with Gold Coast trainer Peter Robl after burnout and a “lack of application” almost saw him quit the sport.

Like many jockeys, Franklin was born into the racing industry. His father, Craig, was a jockey, while his grandmother was a trainer.

“When I was 12 I kind of grew out of (racing) and didn’t really want much to do with the game,” Franklin said.

“I wanted to leave high school at 15 and I was quite light because I wanted to pursue a career in boxing.

“Dad said, ‘you can’t leave school to go work at McDonalds so why don’t you learn to ride’.”

Franklin began riding trackwork under the tutelage of his father and Murwillumbah trainer Matthew Dunn. It was a whirlwind start to his career as he went from having never ridden a horse to his first race ride in two years.

“Dad educated me a lot. He had me on the equicizer (mechanical non-motorised horse) from a young age,” Franklin said.

“He invested a lot of time in me early days and I pretty much had 10 years under my belt by the time I hit 15.”

Franklin was with Dunn for three-and-a-half years before moving to Brett Dodson at Coffs Harbour.

“I was only going quite fair with Matt (Dunn), but it was when I got more central to the Northern Rivers that my career really lifted,” he said.

“I could travel to Newcastle, Tamworth and even up to the Gold Coast.”

Franklin enjoyed a successful season where he won the 2022/23 Rising Star Series and the Northern Rivers Apprentice Premiership.

He finished with 33 points in the Rising Stars Series, 12 points clear of runner-up Shayleigh Ingelse and Group 1-winning riders, Dylan Gibbons and Tyler Schiller in third.

“I ended up going to apprentice school at Scone and talking to Corey Brown, where I asked if he could possibly enquire about getting me a go in Sydney riding trials,” Franklin said.

“Two weeks later he rang me back and said Mark Newnham was keen to take me on as an apprentice in Sydney.”

The offer to work with Newnham was an easy one to accept. Franklin was following in the footsteps of Robbie Dolan, Tom Sherry and Tyler Schiller to work under Newnham and claim the past four Sydney Apprentice Jockey titles.

“My first meeting I ended up riding a winner and that really gave me a nice kick along,” Franklin said.

Unfortunately, the experience didn’t last long after Newnham took up an opportunity to train in Hong Kong. Franklin moved to Michael Freedman but struggled to immerse himself in the Sydney routine.

He did grab headlines booting home his first winner for Chris Waller in May, subsequent Group 1 Epsom Handicap winner Rediener at Rosehill, but ultimately his Sydney stint wasn’t to be.

“I became a bit frustrated and I didn’t really dedicate myself to race riding anymore. I let my weight get out of control, I was hopping off horses, letting trainers down and I didn’t have the mindset to be successful in such a competitive area,” he said.

“I pretty much let myself and other people down.”

Franklin stepped away from riding and took three months off to completely reset. He returned home to Grafton to be with family and was so alienated by racing that he couldn’t stand the sound of racing at the track or even on TV.

His weight fluctuated to 70kg before a conversation with his father changed his mindset.

“Dad had a good chat to me and said ‘mate you’re going to regret it in five years time if you don’t go back and have another crack this early in your career’,” Franklin said.

“I ended up getting my weight back down and moved to the Gold Coast where Peter Robl took me under his wing.”

By his own admission, Franklin had burnt a few bridges in Sydney, but believed he could begin to reach his potential after getting his head right.

A frank conversation between Robl and Franklin built the foundation of their new relationship after the hungry apprentice laid it all on the table to his new boss.

“As soon as I got there I admitted I was my own worst enemy in Sydney. I didn’t help myself, I’ve had three months off and all I want to do now is come up here, make my mark and have a proper crack,” Franklin said.

“He has been nothing but supportive of me the whole time.

“I believe having a positive mindset is everything. When you are in a good headspace, your weight comes right, your body is a machine and your mind is the captain steering the ship.”

The mutual respect between Robl and Franklin has been one major positive driving Franklin’s revival.

“(Robl) obviously has first pick with me and I always make sure I commit to him first for race rides and trials” Franklin said.

“Nine times out of 10 if he believes his horse isn’t as good as the one being offered, he will let me ride the better horse.

“He was a great jockey and he knows what it’s like to be an apprentice and he is not trying to hold be back at all, he is just trying to encourage me to be the best jockey I can be.”

It has been the vast expanses of the Sunshine Coast track that has seen Franklin especially thrive.

“I absolutely love the Sunshine Coast. It is a beautiful track and I honestly would compare it to Randwick,” he said.

“I think I have quite a lot of success there because I am quite a patient rider. It gives me the opportunity to ride horses patiently and really let them build through the gears to hit the line.”

A self-described racing nerd, Franklin loves the tactical side of racing and has ‘frothed’ learning off fellow rider Ben Thompson.

“Tactical races are the sort of races I like to ride. I love doing form, speed maps and knowing what sort of horses you need to follow in the race,” he said.

“If you are three pairs back following Ben Thompson on a favourite, you aren’t panicking because you know he is going to find a run.

“It doesn’t matter how good you look, if you give your horse the right run and clear running at the right time they will run to the best of their ability.”

Local Sunshine Coast trainer Stuart Kendrick has also been a major supporter of Franklin.

“He is probably the trainer - aside from Peter (Robl) - who really helped me at the start. He gave me my first winner back and from there we got on a roll,” Franklin said.

“I was riding doubles for him and since then I have been able to get some nice opportunities across a host of stables.”

In addition to his mother, Kristie, and father, Franklin credits his manager Tilian Lee as a major source of support.

“As I said in Sydney, no one wanted me and he (Lee) stuck with me through everything,” Franklin said.

“He picked me up every time I hit the ground and, when I moved up here, I reached out to him. Since he took me on we have luckily been able to go on a roll.

“More than anything I am just so happy I was able to repay him. He was so supportive of me in Sydney and I really let him down, so I am glad I am able really achieve some things when I put my head down and bum up.”

When asked what goals he has for next season, Franklin held no punches.

“For the rest of the season it will be to outride my provincial claim and then I want to win the Brisbane apprentice premiership next season,” he said.

“I am really knuckling down, it is what I want.”