Ropiha knows he has top chance for Egmont Cup

Ben Ropiha i s upbeat about the chances of his in- form stayer Doiknowyou at Hawera today.

The Cambridge trainer believes the 7- year- old can repeat his last- start Rating 75 company victory in the Kaponga Hotel Egmont Cup.

“His work on Tuesday morning was outstanding and I’m going down there pretty confident he can win,” Ropiha said. “He’s going really well, he’s got the light weight and the track will suit him.”

While Doiknowyou has won only three races, he has already placed in an open handicap on the course having finished runner- up there to Our Gazza during the winter.

“He’s more seasoned now and his feet are as good as they’ve ever been,” Ropiha said giving credit to his farrier brother Logan.

Doiknowyou had been aimed at the Cup for some time. “I was looking through the programmes a while ago and after he ran third at Auckland I thought if he could win his next start then we would go down for it.

“He won pretty decisively last time and he would probably have been competitive in the Mitchelson Cup that same day.”

Matamata trainer Karyn McQuade knows exactly what to expect of Underthemoonlight, who is in top form for the Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes today.

Underthemoonlight has enjoyed a solid campaign and won’t have any problems with the slow going.

The El Hermano mare is a genuine winter performer, who has enjoyed a rewarding campaign with eight cheques from 11 appearances.

She was an open handicap winner at Te Rapa during the winter and more recently an unlucky fourth in the Foxbridge Plate before runner- up finishes at Hastings and Ellerslie.

“She always tried very hard and she’s had a few knocks and bumps along the way, she’s popped up in the stipes’ reports a few times,” McQuade said.