Latest News

By Ray Hickson

City class potential? Absolutely. Heavy track? We’re about to find out once and for all.

Those are trainer John Thompson’s views on emerging four-year-old Zouripper and what he faces in the Midway Handicap (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

The gelding has been exposed to a heavy track three times in his career with his debut second at Nowra his best result and Thompson is hoping now he’s more mature he’ll take to it with more gusto.

“I’m not sure how he’s going to handle it,’’ he said.

“A soft track he’ll be fine, but heavy I don’t know. It’d be a question. He’s never worked on heavy grass, we’re just going to see how he goes.

“He appreciates give in the ground, therefore goes well on the soft.

“It’s not as if it’s going to be the end of the world, some horses just thrive in it and others battle through it. Which one he is I’m not sure yet.”

Zouripper, $3.10 with TAB on Thursday, showed Thompson he’d come back in career best touch with a sweeping victory at Kembla Grange two weeks ago.

Zouripper wins at Kembla Grange on June 21

It was a big improvement from what he’d shown for the most part in his previous preparations and he said he’s hoping that’s a sign he’s ready to take that next step.

“He came to me with a few problems and we’ve had to nurse him a bit,’’ he said.

“I think it’s been about just holding him together but with a bit more time given to him he’s in really good shape.

“I think he is a city class horse. He went to Kembla on a Saturday and showed that, he was a class above them and won well. He seems to have done well since.

“He’s been a happy horse, he’s working well and looks good.”

Thompson offered the ride to Brock Ryan, who was the pilot in his first-up win, but the comeback jockey has elected to stay at the provincials for now as he regains some momentum so he'll take 2kg off with Braith Nock's claim.

He said it’s been proven in both his wins that Zouripper appreciates being ridden from off the pace and has no plans to change anything on Saturday.

“When he won his maiden he was ridden the same, he showed a good turn of foot,’’ he said.

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