Rosie adding extra style and colour to race days
RACING: There is only one thing the racing public loves more than a champion galloper and that’s a horse who turns up every start and gives their best.
If that same horse happens to be a grey — well, that only adds to their appeal.
Throw in the fact they have a 38% winning strike rate and they fill a place at almost 70% of their starts and they are a punter’s pal to boot.
It’s a rare combination but Toowoomba mare Rosie Posie fits that bill nicely.
Rosie Posie is back doing what she does best in now her fourth preparation for trainer Matt Kropp and her Dalby-based owners and breeders Michael and Val Kelly.
The recently turned five-year-old has been to the races 16 times for six wins, five minor placings and a prize money kitty of $144,500.
But the good news for her supporters is the best might still be to come for the daughter of Top Echelon and Monaleah after she scored a Brisbane first last Saturday.
Rosie Posie’s stocks went up another notch after racing to her first city victory with a trademark bullocking finish for Toowoomba apprentice Ruby Ride to win a Doomben Fillies and Mares Benchmark 75 Handicap over 1350 metres.
Her success was also the first metropolitan winner bred by the Kelly family.
Kropp said Rosie Posie’s racing style and will-to-win has earned her a band of supporters while her near white colour ensures she’s a race-day stand-out.
“I think people just appreciate horses who lay their ears back and really have a dig like she does,” Kropp said.
“Being a grey as well I think adds to her popularity.
“There has always been something about grey race
horses that draws people to them.”
Kropp said one of Rosie Posie’s lesser-known quirks was she was a country girl at heart.
“Michael bred her and his grand-children came up with the name Rosie Posie which seems to somehow suit her,” Kropp said.
“She’s pretty easy to train, but we keep her out at Dalby between gallops where she definitely prefers to spend
her time in the quieter environment.
“Her strengths are she settles nicely in her races and has a good turn of foot.
“We’ll give her a couple more runs in Brisbane this time in and try to get her rating up. If we can do that, somewhere down the track we might be able to find a nice quality race to give her her chance at.
“She’s only a little thing but she’s a real trier.”
❝ Being a grey as well I think adds to her popularity. — Matt Kropp