Trainer Steve Wolfe was beaming with joy after Rope Them In made a triumphant return at Albany on Sunday, setting the stage perfectly for his upcoming challenge at Ascot next month.
Rope Them In, representing Tabtouch, is set to compete in the third edition of The Quokka (1200m) on April 26. The horse solidified his credentials for the $5 million race with a win in the Bluff Knoll (1099m).
All attention was on the Playing God four-year-old, especially after a modest trial performance. However, he exceeded expectations, delivering an outstanding victory.
Returning to the track since The Gold Rush (1400m) in December, with Shaun Mcgruddy aboard, Rope Them In surged to the finish line, one length ahead of his closest competitor, Devine Belief.
This win marked Rope Them In’s eighth victory in 18 starts, boosting his total earnings and bonuses to nearly a million dollars. More importantly, it eased concerns Wolfe had following the horse’s trial performance.
“I was a bit shocked by his trial,” Wolfe admitted on Tabradio.
“He was a bit rusty, and I tend to be a bit soft on horses most of the time.
“We didn’t have to do too much; we made a few adjustments.
“But I was pretty confident—he’s a genuine racehorse.
“They don’t make excuses for themselves.
“If they don’t win, it’s because they’re not good enough or it’s just bad luck.
“They show up on race day, like champion footballers.”
With six weeks remaining until The Quokka, Wolfe is considering the best preparation plan to ensure Rope Them In is ready for Perth’s richest race.
He is contemplating two options: the $100,000 Rock Magic Stakes (1000m) on April 19 or the Group 3 Roma Cup (1100m) two weeks later.
“It wouldn’t matter if he didn’t have another run,” Wolfe said.
“He’s in great shape, and I can see him being ready for a 1200m race and being very tough to beat.
“There’s plenty of time, and we’ll likely give him another run, but it’s not essential.
“He’s a top horse, and I don’t need to push him too hard.
“He’ll be ready on race day, whether he races beforehand or not.
“He’s in excellent condition.”
