Trainer Steve Wolfe wore a big smile following the successful return of Rope Them In at Albany on Sunday, the perfect pipe-opener ahead of his peak challenge at Ascot next month.
Rope Them In will represent Tabtouch in the third running of The Quokka (1200m) on April 26 and stamped his claims for the $5 million race with victory in the Bluff Knoll (1099m).
All eyes were on the Playing God four-year-old and how he would compete first up off a moderate trial, but he could not have performed any better and looked outstanding in victory.
Resuming since The Gold Rush (1400m) in December and with Shaun Mcgruddy in the saddle, Rope Them In sprinted to the line one length clear of his next rival, Devine Belief.
It progressed Rope Them In to eight wins from 18 starts and pushed prizemoney and bonuses to nearly a million dollars, but importantly it allayed concerns Steve Wolfe had after his warm up trial.
“I was a bit shocked by his trial,” Wolfe said on Tabradio.
“He was a bit rusty and I’m a bit soft on horses most of the time.
“We didn’t have to do too much; we altered a few things.
“But I was pretty confident, he’s a genuine racehorse.
“They don’t make excuses for themselves.
“If they don’t win, they’re not good enough or bad luck.
“They turn up on race day, they’re like champion footballers.”
With six weeks until the Quokka, Wolfe is weighing up what is the best path and the most suitable option in getting Rope Them In to Perth’s richest race.
The $100,000 Rock Magic Stakes (1000m) on April 19 or the Group 3 Roma Cup (1100m) a fortnight later are two races he’s mulling over.
“It wouldn’t matter if he didn’t have another run,” Wolfe said.
“He’s in good order and I can see him getting ready for a 1200m and be very hard to beat.
“There’s plenty of time and we’ll probably have another run, but it’s not necessary.
“He’s a good horse and I don’t need to tax him.
“He’ll turn up on race day whether he races or not.
“He’s in good order.”
