Latest News

By Ray Hickson

It was far from Plan A for Anna Roper to have Gallant Star outside the lead in her first ride on the gelding so she’s hoping for more options when they reunite at Scone on Saturday.

Apprentice Anna Roper (Pic: Bradley Photos)

In an ideal world, Roper said she’d love the Listed $200,000 Scone Equine Luskin Star Stakes (1300m) to be run similarly to the Barn Dance back in November when Gallant Star sat back and swept down the middle for an easy win.

The five-year-old engaged in a two horse war with Cool Jakey at Hawkesbury two weeks ago that Roper didn’t want to be in but had to engage to give him the best chance of winning.

“The race wasn’t run to suit the other day, I think he is much better if there is speed on and he can get in behind a few and get some cover,’’ Roper said.

“He’s not an easy horse to run down, Cool Jakey, that’s for sure. The speed scratched out of the race the other day which just meant either Adam (Hyeronimus) was going to get his own way up in front by himself and I went back and had to run him down.

“Or I had to be the one to apply the pressure. It was to his detriment.

“I think 1300m in hopefully what will be a bit of a high pressure race will be a lot better for him.”

Gallant Star, $4 with TAB on Friday, was a month between runs at Hawkesbury, following his fourth as favourite behind Know Thyself in the Country Championships Final.

Roper said he didn’t relish the ground at Hawkesbury and how the Scone track handles Cup Day and the 17 races that precede the Luskin Star will be vital to her mount’s chances.

“I am worried about how much rain they’re going to get, I think he is a bit better on top of the ground,’’ she said.

“He’s okay on the soft, just once it gets to that choppy heavy range it gets a bit concerning.

“But the speed should be on, it should be a nice genuine run 1300m which would suit him down to the ground.”

Northern Eyes locks horns again with Jumeirah Beach in the Midway Handicap (1700m) and Roper is looking forward to the return bout after also going down narrowly at Hawkesbury.

That was over 1500m and Northern Eyes has a 1.5kg swing in his favour.

It’s taken a few runs for the Kim Waugh-trained gelding to get into his groove this campaign and Roper feels he’s close to a win.

“He was a bit disappointing at the start of the prep, he had a few runs in stronger races and I think it might have deflated his confidence a bit,’’ she said.

“He’s been going super at home and he keeps building, every run has been better and better since I’ve been riding him.

“We ran along at a very good clip the other day and he was very honest with a big weight on his back.

“He wants something to chase, he hit the front at the top of the straight on a hot tempo and when he was out on his own for a long way he didn’t see the other horse coming.”

Roper also reunites with Grand Impact in the Listed $200,000 Emirates Park Kids Foundation Ortensia Stakes (1100m) having partnered the Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr gelding to a last start win at Randwick on February 1.

Gallant Star runs second at Hawkesbury on May 3

She said the Ortensia is naturally a class rise but is confident he can run a handy race fresh.

“His trial was super impressive, he looks like he’s come back really well,’’ she said.

“He likes a soft track and his first-up record isn’t bad either. He’s an honest horse and if he’s right he should be right in that race with no weight on his back.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday’s Scone meeting