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By Ray Hickson

It’s probably the stuff of dreams at the moment but Anna Roper would jump at the chance to ride promising mare Without Parallel in The Kosciuszko should she be given the call.

Jockey Anna Roper (pic: Bradley Photos).

Roper is looking forward to partnering one of Matt Dunn’s leading contenders for the $2 million feature race in October for the second time in the Merrylands RSL Club Handicap (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday, a race important to the horse’s chances of being selected.

Without Parallel, who was also accepted for a race at Eagle Farm where she drew wide, raced her way out of Highway grade and into Kosciuszko contention with a runaway Rosehill win earlier this month.

“I’d love to stay on her, that might be a bit of a fight but I’ll stick with Saturday for now and try to get her home,’’ Roper said.

“It’s a stronger race down here, she’s done everything right so far but she’s got to step up now.”

The four-year-old, $3.40 with TAB on Thursday and on the $11 line for The Kosciuszko, impressed Roper with how she went about her work in her Highway win where she made it four wins from as many starts.

That race was on a heavy 10 and Roper said given Without Parallel has already proven herself in all conditions she is excited to see what she can do with the prospect of a track in the soft range and a barrier that she feels advantages her.

“I wasn’t sure how she was going to let down on that track but as soon as I gave her a squeeze I did, she put them away quite easily,’’ she said.

“She was very impressive, obviously she has to step out of Highway grade into benchmark grade.

“She’s a horse that puts herself right up on speed, she can be just in behind them if she wants to.

“It’s a good asset to have to keep herself out of trouble, she relaxes and has a good turn of foot at the top of the straight.

“She’s very calm and relaxed for a horse that hasn’t had many starts and she hasn’t done anything wrong.”

Roper and Wyong trainer Denim Wynen have enjoyed a run of success of late and they’ll pair up again with Monkhana and Sunshine Law, both recent winners for the duo.

Monkhana steps up in distance in the Midway Handicap (1800m) having scored at 1500m two weeks ago and Roper said the only concern for the mare is negotiating a wide barrier.

“I rode her over the 1900m at Canterbury one time, she drew the outside and we had to do a bit of work to get across,’’ she said.

“She’s probably not as good ridden right on top of the speed and she was coming to the end of her prep.

“It’s not an ideal gate but if I can get a bit of luck from the draw I think she will definitely run the trip out. She’s going super, she couldn’t be going any better and she does try her guts out.”

Sunshine Law was Wynen’s first city winner when she scored four weeks ago, Roper said there’s a good case to forgive her effort last start when sixth behind Pippie Beach as she looks to bounce back in the Bankstown Sports Handicap (1500m).

Without Parallel wins at Rosehill on August 2

“I think when she found outside the leader it was probably not the right place to be on her,’’ she said.

“She’s a horse that needs to be bottled up and exposed late, she has a bit of a think about things, so if I can save her for that last 100m it’d be ideal.”

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