Gelding storms home in win
RACING: Eric Ropiha has saddled plenty of top gallopers in his racing journey but few might have given him the thrills “larrikin” gelding Teeroys Tribute is now providing the hobby Toowoomba trainer.
Lightly raced Teeroys Tribute has proven a reliable money-spinner for his connection and on Saturday he again delivered for them with a classy return win at Clifford Park.
With the aid of a peach Kenji Yoshida ride, Teeroys Tribute ($4.40) finished powerfully from midfield for a half-neck victory in the Toowoomba Outdoor Power Products Benchmark 65 Handicap (1000m).
Captain’s Angel ($5) finished solidly to grab second while $2.40 favourite Dream Of Ascot ran an improved race to finish a long head back third.
Teeroys Tribute was also a Doomben acceptor on Friday but the Sequalo gelding justified Ropiha’s decision to target a home-track assignment at his first outing since April.
The class-record win was his fourth at Clifford Park.
“He’s a bit of a larrikin and can be a bit of a handful to take away,” said Ropiha who prepares Teeroys Tribute for his wife Sally along with Gary and Marianne Smythe.
“He’s only lightly framed, but he’s just a cracker horse.”
Ropiha prepared a string of class gallopers when he took to full-time training after spending a lengthy period with the Jim Atkins stable.
His feature gallopers included Oscar Warrior and Lucky Luna.
Ropiha has wound back his numbers to just three horses currently, but he’s daring to dream with Teeroys Tribute.
“I just wonder if he could maybe develop into a Weetwood type horse. It’s been in the back of my
mind,” Ropiha said.
“There’s a long way for him to go to even get into a Weetwood.
“But he’s so good on this track and is always carrying big weights.
“We’ll just have to wait and see how he measures up.”
MILES-based apprentice Adin Thompson opened his career winning account in memorable fashion at Roma’s Bassett Park on Saturday with a hat-trick of wins.
Thompson, who began
riding at Blackall on November 25, peeled off successive victories aboard Fab’s Cowboy ($2.60 fav), Thin Disguise ($5) and Murphy’s Hustler ($1.80 fav).
Thompson’s three winners were trained by his master Bevan Johnson.
CLASS prevailed in Saturday’s Texas Cup when top weight Agapantha ($1.80 fav) scored a 3 1/2 length win over Drum Master ($10) for Toowoomba trainer Lindsay Hatch and apprentice Taylor Williams.